Troops and Such

Brennan and Marius wander by the command tent, where they are advised that Brita is at Prince Julian's tent.

Brennan and Marius arrive at the tent at about the time Needle is retreating from the tent after sausage delivery. Needle advises them that Lady Brita is within, breaking her fast with Princess Fiona.

Inside the tent, Brita - after taking a deep breath to drink in the wonderful scent of sausage - notes to her mother, "We appear to have family visitors. Cousin Marius and..."

Brennan thanks Needle for the information, and with that information, joins Brita and Fiona. Presumeably with Marius. As he enters, he greets them, and introduces Marius. "Hello, Brita, Aunt Fiona."

Brita rises to greet her cousins and to move chairs around.

Fiona also rises, and accepts the kiss on the hand from Brennan.

If they rise, he favors Brita with a kiss on the cheek, and Fiona with a kiss on the hand.

He judges by the reactions whether Marius, Fiona and Brita have met before (I believe the answer is yes for both) and adjusts the introduction appropriately. "Cousin Marius has rejoined the land of the living," he says, "and shortly I expect we'll be seeing to the army and the Navy. Bleys and Caine are on-site as well," he says.

Brita smiles at her cousins. "It is good to see you up and walking, Cousin Marius," she notes. "Please sit and break fast with us."

Brennan obliges, out of a sense of company and politeness. He eats sparingly, having already had one breakfast this morning.

"We haven't gotten an answer from the Crown about wages for the troops yet, but we expect one by the end of the day. If an answer comes through here first, I'd quite appreciate it if Marius and I had a chance to vet it and delivery it, rather than letting rumors spin out of control. I may head back to the City for lunch, if the answer hasn't come down by then."

Brita nods. "The Rangers are at your disposal," she says to both cousins, "if you need messages relayed or whatnot."

"Thank you, and much appreciated. As it happens, though, our army of Nobles brought along an army of squires, also quite well suited for those errands."

"I was thinking of any messages to Amber. We do not want even the squires to return to the city until it is time. The Rangers can use the messaging system we have set up in Arden to relay information back to Amber."

Breakfast continues with Brita describing the layout of the camp in more detail, noting that she had hoped to have dragons as a separating wall between more contentious factions.

"Alas, no Dragons yet. But I left about a paragraph and a half of strong words with the various commanders on that subject before I left camp yesterday. I will be most unhappy if I find I have been disobeyed." The look in his eyes leaves little doubt that he won't hesitate to enforce discipline in peace as well as in war. But the mood and the look passes.

"Given that there are no Dragons, I would guess also that there is no Jovian? How about Daeon?"

Fiona looks at Brita and leaves that one for her to answer.

"Daeon has roamed into Arden and Uncle Julian has gone to encourage him to return."

Once the meal is complete, Brita will rise again, "I will leave you two to assess the state of your troops. I would like to know of any issues you uncover. The troops are more likely to relay problems or concerns to one of you than to myself or the Rangers." Brita turns to her mother and, with a gesture towards the tent opening, "Mother, if you would like a brief tour before you leave...?"

Actually, Brennan has one last detail, this time for Fiona. "You loaned me something after the funeral, Aunt Fiona." And he returns a deck of cards to her. "I had not forgotten."

"I am glad they served you well, nephew," Fiona says, favoring him with a smile.

Then he looks at Fiona and Brita and asks, "Is there any convenient way to return to the Vale?"

"I believe," says Fiona, looking at Brita, "that there is a Trump sketch of the Vale about somewhere. Otherwise, you are best off making contact with someone who is within the camp and coming in on their Trump."

She adds, by way of explanation to Brennan (since Marius and Brita presumably already know), "The Vale is too far for a convenient ride back to the Castle."

Brita shakes her head and says "I have nothing here. I left my sketch of the Vale with Jerod. Conner and Reid both have my trump as well and they can surely pass you through to me as needed."

Fiona says, "That's just as well; we want to limit the number of troops that can be brought through to Amber at once."

At some point on the morning following the Mandatory Fun, Paige gets a scroll sealed with red wax and a stylized C from a naval runner. It reads:

Greetings Cousin:

Its been a long while since we sat down and caught up and with the tasks ahead time might be hard to come by in future. Can you join me for dinner tonight?

Conner

The response is in flowing script of folded paper that smells vaguely of juniper, sealed with green wax and an embossed unicorn head erased.

Dearest Cousin,

I'd be well pleased to join you, but demands make the Naval a bit out of my way this evening. If you'd be so kind, I'll ask Michelle to prepare dinner at the Prince. If my man does not hear from you I'll ensure that something wonderful is prepared for after Vespers.

Paige

No more is heard and right after Vespers, Conner arrives at the Prince. He is dressed simply in a white dress shirt and navy blue pants and his hands bear traces of ink stains freshly removed.

Aisling, following the talk with Merlin (which I imagine will finish up mid-lunchtime since she had an early lunch), returns to her rooms to collect Ce'e and change back into the streamered form and the sharp black outfit, and then collects a page to conduct them, and sets off on a long tour which is about learning any changes in castle layout and, particularly, gladhanding the staff. She meets, she greets, she sparkles and memorizes names and introduces Ce'e around. She speaks of how nice it is to get to know some of the servants she remembers in person, since of course before the Battle of the Edge she couldn't go about obviously a Chaosite... Any questions of the "Um, so, why was a Chaosite here, anyway?" variety will be met with a cheerful "Why, to keep an eye on things, of course... But not for the enemy," and that's all true, and its about there that she mentions she'll be giving an eyewitness account of the Battle of the Edge an hour or so before dinner, and welcomes anyone who wants to hear what happened.

Upon returning to the castle, Jerod has his secretary arrange an audience with the king to discuss payment of the troops. He will make sure that Kemel knows to inform the King's Secretary that Prince Bleys will be waiting on an answer, so he shouldn't delay in arranging the audience...:) He'll also have Kemel arrange an appointment with the Queen - Jerod wishes to discuss bringing the Ladies of the Court into the picture if possible.

After Kemel heads off for that that bit of paperwork, Jerod will track down the immediate family members and Nestor who are in the castle and garner their opinions. He'll also see about getting Reid's opinion, mostly cause he comes from a really far back time and maybe they dealt with something like this. The people he'll be looking for opinions from (assuming they are available), will be Paige, Reid, Martin, Solange (who regrettably is not around), Lucas (assuming he's still in the castle of course) and Cambina. Nestor will be asked for background history if there's any available, but Jerod will be sure to check histories with his sister first cause she might have that information already (you never know with her). Others who get run into in the hallways will be tapped for their opinions as well, but the people listed are the ones deliberately looked for (by Jerod and pages).

Nestor says "there is precedent for any way you want to do it." He also adds a few more options.
1: Pay them only for time they spent, but as a bonus, the crown will pay interest on debts they could not service while away.
2: Gifts of abandoned property from the city.

A precedent for anything...or as they say in surveys - figures lie and liars figure...:)...just gotta read the precedents the right way.

Though Jerod does like Nestor's comments and will be sure to associate his report suitably when it comes time to table it.

Cambina suggests having the nobles pay the troops in exchange for favorable trade routes to be set up by, well, Jerod. "It's too bad such a clever compromise turned out to be moot, of course."

"Moot?" Jerod asks, wondering if his sister is having another vision.

"What's moot?", she says.

"You had another vision." Jerod replies. "Or rather, it was an interesting suggestion from wherever your visions come from."

Aisling will be moving around enough that I think it's likely she and Jerod might meet in a hall; in which case, her response would be a thoughtful, "It seems to me that the kingdom of Amber can afford to be generous." She pauses. "Though you'd certainly not want to create rampant inflation and thoroughly destroy the economy... Perhaps a celebratory bonus now, and the rest paid over the next year or so, once there are things to buy again?"

"That sounds reasonable." Jerod replies. "I would ask...how much is generous? An extra week? A month? A year?" He does not appear to be picky or finicky. Rather he's looking to hear what she is thinking about paying, and why.

"I should think," Aisling says after a moment or two of thought, "that the five years of pay should be a staggering enough sum to suffice without further adornment. However, a lovely badge or medal to show one's grandchilden would not be out of place."

He makes note of Aisling's suggestion.

[[He actually writes something down, or is this just an expression?]]

He would make a mental note, and it would be his expression. Actually writing something down is what Vere might do...if he was overwhelmed with data...(which is not something that anyone in Amber wants to see).

If a page was around prior to this conversation, he would get a look that says "take a walk". Jerod never discusses important issues in front of the hired help...a cardinal sin in this family.

The page finds other things to do during this discussion.

Does he give the "move along" look to Ce'e as well?

Since Ce'e appears to be (and from the reports) is Aisling's servant, there's always the possibility that she discusses these issues with him. In this particular event, given its sensitivity, Ce'e would get a once over, and then Aisling would get the look...:). She can always keep him/her/it by her side...he's not going to tell her what to do with her servants anymore than he'd tell Bleys or Caine or Flora what to do. It's not kosher to openly mess with someone else's people...:)

But that point, it falls into Aisling's responsibility if Ce'e says or repeats anything important to someone outside the family...or outside of Amber. (a test perhaps?)

For the record, I think Aisling would have sent Ce'e along with the page so that Jerod would feel most comfortable. And to see how Ce'e did. :)

"I trust you are finding everything you need? Things have no doubt changed a bit since last you were here."

"I have not yet determined the extent of the changes, but the castle staff, on the whole, seem to be up to the fine standards of yore," she says with a slight nod to him. Then she hearkens back to the original question. "For what reason is the payment of the troops in question? Surely there are none who question their unwavering strength?"

"Their unwavering strength is not the issue." Jerod replies. "It's whether the kingdom can afford to pay five year's wages for an entire army. There's never been a precedent like this before. And the royal treasuries are not bottomless."

"Are you unaware of the economic difficulties we've been contending with over the last five years?" Jerod asks.

"I have heard hints. But it seems to me the question you should be asking yourself is, Can you afford to not pay your troops?" Aisling has her hands clasped in front of her, in all manners demure except for the "possessing actual demureness" thing.

"You tell me where to get the money and I'll pay them every penny." Jerod replies. "Until that happens though, I suspect we'll go with a solution that doesn't include breaking the bank."

"I would have assumed that given your period of time spying on us you would have gathered some indication of the economic infrastructure here - it's strengths and weaknesses. Was that lacking in your reports to home? Or are you merely feigning ignorance?" Jerod does not appear to be taken in by any mannerisms of "demurity"...he seems to treat her as an equal (which unless she's done a really good study of him, she won't be sure if that's good, or bad).

[[She has. He was handy. ;) ]]

Then she will know that being treated as an equal is both good and bad. Good because of the simple concept of being an equal (regardless of sex) - respect, dignity, etc. The bad part is there's no slack given to an equal...:)

Just to clarify, she's not trying to fool him with the demurity. It's just the stance she's taken. If she was trying to fool him, she wouldn't be meeting his eyes, for one...

"It is not mine to suggest which programs you might cut, which luxuries you might go without. I have not the power of your family. It is mine to point out that an army of such quality is not something to idly toss away into the wind, for in my experience there are always gusts that blow straight back in your face." The muscles in her face subtly move, though her outward expression does not change from one of peaceful alertness. "Better to break the bank than to break your bond to these men."

"If such a bond truly exists, then it will not be shattered by an issue of pay." Jerod says. "Those who serve from mercenary intent are little needed. Equally the same for those troops requisitioned from Shadow. Those who serve from duty will understand a sacrifice in difficult times. And those we would keep, for they can be rewarded in the future when times are better and are worth their weight in gold."

"And in the case of those we need now, I'm sure we can be inventive in our means of pay." he says, though his attention shifts for a bit. "Now that more uncles and aunts have returned, the stress of maintenance will ease a bit."

"I'm curious though. How did you do that?" he asks, motioning to the musculature movement in her face.

"Pardon?" Aisling asks, looking kind of baffled, then, "I suppose it's something you must learn, growing up in Chaos. But you Amberites do it, too, far surpassing my skill..." She shrugs, goes back to the main track of the conversation, speaking plainly. "I doubt this is a time in Amber's history when there are none to take advantage of a large group of skilled disgruntled soldiers. You do need those of our troops who need money." She pauses, smiles up at him, something of sadness in it, then by a change of posture signifies on-moving, earnestly, "I do thank you for stopping to speak with me and hear me out, but I suspect we are both busy... However, if you find the time, about an hour before dinner I was going to tell an account of the Battle to those among the folk of the castle who were interested."

"I would be interested in that, very much." Jerod says. "Assuming I get out from speaking with the King in time of course.

"I will be arranging a set of dinners over the next few days with those of us responsible for getting things settled here in Amber. You might wish to join us. We've gotten into the habit of eating together over the past five years. I suspect it's something our elders will try to discourage as they will think we are plotting their incarceration in some old age home." and he smiles a little at the thought of this, just the tiniest bit of the rebel appearing in his expression.

(And we give justification for everyone who can't attend Aisling's first rendition of the battle to claim they've heard it some other time).

Aisling smiles in return, her eyes crinkling a bit at the corners. "I should be very pleased to join you, and I thank you for your kind invitation."

"Do not thank me until after the dinner is concluded." Jerod says, looking up the hall at her servant. "We tend to have working meals. You might find yourself bored to tears." She will suspect that he's exaggerating, though there is always a hint of truth even in myths.

Aisling looks politely skeptical.

"Until dinner." he says, doing his typical nod-bow before heading off to his next destination.

She in turn bows slightly to him and continues on her way.

Jerod will adjust his schedule after speaking to his sister a little bit. Instead of tracking down the others, he arranges to have a set of messages sent by page to those on the previous list who have not yet responded, basically asking the same question but in writing instead of in person. Jerod will be available in the castle later in the day if they wish to speak to him about it instead of just sending a reply in writing.

He has Kemel arrange an audience with the Queen, probably tomorrow (today is likely to be too busy). And then he heads out to work on Cambina's idea, which is very good one, just not the way she mentioned it.

Jerod will be going out to the various noble houses to speak to the heads concerning the payment of the troops by the nobles. He will approach it from the perspective that the troops must be paid of course, and if the Crown does it, it will be necessary for the Crown to re-coup the costs through trade revenues from future trade endeavours. Not perhaps the greatest of news, but certainly something that can be understood.

Jerod then mentions the possibility of "assisting" the Crown in this very important endeavour. He will be sure to stress that anyone who does assist would be sure to receive preferential mention (and support) in his report to the King. He also makes mention that those who do assist would in effect be helping to offset the needs of the Crown to take from future trade revenues - and so its natural they should be compensated for this sacrifice on their part, no doubt from the same future trade revenues. Small donations could result in limited preference given for a limited period of time perhaps...a truly outstanding donation could result in permanent status (Jerod would maek sure that anyone perking up at this comment would know that the outstanding donation would have to be VERY BIG - no one gets permanent preferential trade status unless they really earn it).

Jerod will float this in front of a few noble houses that he's reasonably certain would be willing to support it. They don't have to like Random to recognize the opportunity that lies before them. Once he's got a couple of the major players on board, he can leverage that with the more recalcitrant ones. He'll also be careful to ensure that those who pay very well for preferential treatment (and pay well the first time) don't get outbid by someone who comes in later with a slightly higher offering but who is perhaps not as cooperative. (put simply, if you're first and you're friendly, you get dibs...if you're late and surly, well, you get something but maybe not quite as much as others).

After the meeting with Brita and Fiona and Marius winds down, Brennan bids them all good morning, and heads over to the area where the Army have been settling, starting with the hospital area, then working out to area of the Nobles and light cavalry he inherited and then beyond if need be.

Given that news of Brennan's and Marius' (and Caine's and Bleys') arrival may already have spread, Brennan is going to have as much of a surprise inspection as possible. Or perhaps, not so much an inspection, as a casual stroll through those areas without bothering to inform anyone that he's there.

You seem to get the "officer in sight" treatment. Guards on duty suck in their guts and try to look alert and professional, while you are in sight.

Since he's starting in the hospital area, he's looking most to see if Ropes and Lord Hunter have been following his instructions with regards to those work crews and, more importantly, if any of the Nobles picked up on the Great Big Glowing Clue that Brennan left behind. Brennan would be most pleased to find that more than two mixed crews had formed and begun work.

You don't see many work details. Men sit in small groups smoking or talking. You wouldn't need much of a force to rout most of this army, for they do not seem to be expecting danger. The Red Guys, the Rangers, Bleys' Calvary excepted.

...And Brennan's countenance-- ordinarily, a flat, non-expression that people often take for irritation-- clouds into something unequivocally annoyed.

He had also left instructions for the men to make sure that their pitched camp was respectable. Aside from the crews helping with the hospital and other areas, he had absolutely better find that latrines have been dug, tents been pitched, animals tended to, etc. He had been most clear on that point before he left.

This has been done. If you inquire, you might find out that the troops were told that it was important for their return to Amber.

This would be one bright spot.

After he's had a chance to snoop, er, inspect and observe for a bit-- which is to say, when it's obvious to all that Brennan is back on-scene, he'll call the officers around, including at least Lords Hunter and Sense, and Swift and Ropes and Ruuk. Since Lilly is not on-scene, he'll send for one of her officers as well.

Bleys is on-scene, as are Marius and Caine, so he leaves Finnely and the Navy to the latter, and leaves the heavy cavalry to the former. Brita is on-scene, and I'm sure it will come out over breakfast that Julian's men are reporting to her.

That leaves, by my recollection, forces of archers under Llewella and Flora, and whatever reserves Benedict may have had. Unless Bleys had marked either of those groups as something he was going to deal with (or unless Benedict is on-scene himself, of course) he'll collect an officer from those groups as well.

Bleys, you gather, is with the Red Furry Guys. Ruuk is with him. Bleys sends a RFG messenger suggesting that you meet with him, Caine, and, if she is available, Brita, at noon.

I believe this is compatible with the other extra-curricular lunch time activities. Of course he attends, and sends a runner back to say as much.

Brita also receives a messenger requesting a noontime meeting.

Brita is at the disposal of her Uncles. She will ask Needle to organize a medium-sized buffet in the command tent and head there at noon. [under the assumption that that is as good a place as any to meet]

Other than that, the officers meet with you at your convenience. They look as if they have a lot of questions.

I'm sure they do.

But so does Brennan, and by sheer force of personality and common sense, he outranks them all. His questions go first. A lot of them have to do with whether this army is still an army, or whether they think they are in a spacious, grass-carpetted luxury hotel.

You get the feeling that while no one will say so, the latter is not far from being a universally held opinion. Any officer you speak to is convinced that their men have done their share, that they are in good shape, and that the others are sub-par, but that it's hard to blame them, they are peasants, yeomen, and sailors who know that they'll be back to peasantry, yeomanry, and the sea before any discipline could be instilled.

Interesting, and depressing. What impression did Brennan get from the men themselves?

That getting out of the stinkin' army is a high priority for almost every one of them.

If you wanted a general feel, it's like a school after the last exam but where the students have 3 more legislatively required days. There are very few who aren't short-timing it.

Again, it figures. Well, Brennan will scale his expectations and demands downward a bit, but not so much that they think they can lounge about the grass.

Brennan can mingle with the troops with the best of them, and he took the opportunity during his initial stroll through. That would have been when the initial morale-building effort began, too, right there at the grass roots. But no praise given without the firm understanding that this all wasn't over.

Brennan's not above hinting that some time in the near future, they might be getting a visit from someone far more important, but much less specified, than Brennan. He's quite firm, but not unreasonable-- and he's a firm believer that dignity and pride come with accomplishment and discipline, not from slacking about on the forest green.

Brennan is not by any means a ranting and raving sort of field commander, nor does he spit or shriek. Rarely are those sorts of things effective. Nor is excessive sarcasm, but a light leavening of it can work wonders.

Generally speaking, Brennan is quite vocal about his disappointment with the readiness of the army. Triumphant armies returning home are often expected to look just that-- triumphant, and like armies. Brennan asks tough questions, like the state of readiness of the men. Detailed questions about their ability to meet the unexpected, as a triumphant army should be able to. If they expect to remain triumphant, anyway.

In general, if the officer staff haven't even attempted to maintain readiness and discipline, they should be left feeling ashamed, and wondering whether and when the other shoe is going to drop. And may God have mercy on their immortal souls if they spread bullshit.

If they enquire, they may get the idea that those who were proactive might be looked upon favorably for Knighthood.

And anyone foolish enough to try and claim that there are no more possible threats will be asked which magician they studied under.

Still, no theatrics, no dramatics, no screaming, shouting, kicking or biting, no grotesquely overdone sarcasm. Just plain, level headed, no-nonsense insistence on the basic standards of soldiery. And some definite disappointment.

(Theatrics may come later, if Brennan's disappointment isnt' enough to get them off their lazy asses.)

You get the feeling that every officer thinks a quarter of his troops and three quarters of everyone else's would desert if it weren't for
A: the distance to Amber
B: the expectation of the immanent arrival of the paymaster.

You get the feeling that some officers think that some men from some other groups are already loose in the forest, because two weeks pay isn't as valuable as getting to see their girl, who hasn't seen them for years, if rumors are correct...

The officers are nevertheless firmly reminded that they are an army, and that the army has not been discharged. He is, however, also as generally helpful as he can possibly be, without turning into a milsop. When something is ordered, it's not ordered unless Brennan has a good idea how to accomplish it. Officers smart enough to admit to needing advice or assistance (even if they approach him in private, because Brennan understands the conflict of pride involved) generally receive it.

There isn't a lot to do, unless you want to order extensive make-work projects, in which case you will almost certainly have to deal with the Rangers, who really don't want you to leave a footprint here if you don't have to. You can order the construction of "Fort Nonsense", but there may be some opposition.

Fort Nonsense would be going more than a little overboard. There is a reasonable balance between Fort Nonsense and Vacation on the Greens, though. Brennan finds it, and maintains it.

[There really isn't such a thing as a modern (Prussian) staff heirarchy. Each officer is responsible for his troops and to you, or to whatever Prince comes along, really. The army really is non-professional and Amber does not have standing armies during peacetime.]

That may well need to change, though, should Random decide it. Brennan keeps an eye out and starts to mentally sort men and officers into the following groups:

1) Recruitable
2) Draftable
3) Rejects

The best troops are Bleys' Altamerean Knights, who don't seem to speak Thari. The group that was called "Eric's men" consists of local troops (low quality) led by foreign landsknechts.

(For those not up on Maximillian ground troops, see this for a quick and not-cringingly-bad overview of the Land Servants)

Were these men drafted, or did they volunteer?

For the Rangers, Julian said "we're going to war."

For the city troops, they don't understand the question. All able-bodied were ordered to report, and some of them were selected to go to war. So, drafted, basically, but in a more pseudo-feudal sense than a modern lottery sense. Given the five years of increasing assaults on the city by monsters, there isn't much that would be considered resentment at being drafted.

Besides, King Oberon ordered it.

You can substitute "conscripted" for "drafted" if it makes you feel better. A lottery system would have been very surprising, but it was the involuntary service aspect I was looking for.

Then, they may ask their questions.

They have several:

1: When will they get paid?

As soon as possible. King Random and his staff are working on the solution; Brennan has already given counsel and will likely return to the City later in the day to get more news.

(And if they don't ask how much they're going to get paid, neither will Brennan try to answer that.)

2: When can they go home?

Answer uncertain. Ask again later.

Or maybe something more along the lines of, King Random and Prince Benedict are still assessing the situation and the need for military service.

3: How much time has passed in Amber?

Well, hell.

If they're asking that, dollars to doughnuts that one of the sneaky bastards already knows the answer, so there's nothing for it but to give the answer to the best precision he's got, and ask them not to go spreading it around. Any of them with half a brain should know why that ought to be kept quiet for a while, and for the slow learners in the crowd, Brennan explains it.

And, at the same time, to watch the faces and look for the recognition on the faces of the ones who already knew the answer, because they're going to end up being Brennan's very good friends. Whether they want to or not.

Everybody. The Army tells you they got it from the Rangers, who re-integrated pretty much on arrival.

4: What happened to Prince Gerard?

Prince Gerard is alive, but has been injured. His injuries did not prevent him from serving as Regent.

5: Is the reason that they aren't allowed home that Amber is a ghost town and everyone is gone?

"Fuck no. Bring me the source of that rumor. Instantly."

6: Is it true that the city was attacked by Moonriders?

See above, no. 5.

How much effort do you put into this? Eric's men tell you it was a Ranger, but they can't seem to decide which one is the pats^h^h^h^h source.

Enough effort that dumb-ass rumors stop getting spread. Or at least, perhaps, maybe, reduce in frequency and outlandishness.

Not enough that some poor sot has to suffer for the collective sin of gossip-mongering.

7: What about the foreign troops?

See above, no. 2.