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Post by Wanderjar on Feb 15, 2007 12:19:16 GMT -5
Ulor's Palace Renifar, Aatan Oron 22, Salgan 10, Adonsik 40 Cledman VI (22/10/40 Cledman VI) Jezefar announces that Ekanor Falan Ardimuk has arrived and shows him into the Ulor's office along with another military officer. Ekanor Falan Ardimuk says, "My apologies. You asked me to come back in two days time and it has been a lot longer than that. Many things have occupied my mind and my time. Allow me to introduce to you Gurikan Gamuk, commander of the 3rd Kantora Aatan. You asked me to bring my officers, or at least those who can be spared. Gamuk is the only kantora commander who could come today. The other two, Dalifar and Yandifar, are in the mountains. They were supposed to be dealing with smugglers, but now we have a much more serious concern." "What's that?" Ulor Wanderjar asked. "The local clans up there have got it in their heads that your declaration of independence means they don't have to pay taxes anymore. There have been a lot of incidents of mountain people throwing rocks at the troops and shouting at them to go back to Zekran. This is despite the fact that most of the troops are actually from Aatan. Both the kantora commanders up there are Aats. Something's got to be done." Wanderjar sighed and scratched his head. This was a touchy situation, and he knew it. If he made the wrong move, the revolution could come to a halt. However, he knew what needed to be done in order to preserve the nation's independence. "Alright, here's what I think needs to be done. First of all, tell them that by paying taxes, they are assisting the support of the state, which in turn will improve their lives and well-being. That is what paying taxes is: providing money for the state to pay for services which the state shall provide for them and better the nation. It is of the utmost importance that they pay, not for me as I shall not benefit from it, but rather so that the state as a whole shall. Tell them this. If they do not like it, then inform them to meet with me so that we may negotiate."
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Post by Gamemaster on Feb 15, 2007 15:14:14 GMT -5
Ardimuk says, "Very well. Is there anything else you wish to discuss?"
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Post by Wanderjar on Feb 16, 2007 19:31:13 GMT -5
Ardimuk says, "Very well. Is there anything else you wish to discuss?" "Just one quick thing: How many troops do we now have?"
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Post by Gamemaster on Feb 17, 2007 3:23:36 GMT -5
Ardimuk says, "It depends on how you count them. We had 1,376 men before the declaration of independence. 198 have deserted since then, probably because they don't want to be part of this. That leaves 1,178 men from the Imperial garrison. We've had 2,119 new volunteers since the declaration of independence, but they are completely untrained and have no equipment except an oddball collection of weapons they brought with them and no armor. Of those 2,119 new volunteers, 362 changed their minds and have deserted already. So the total number of men under my command at last count was..."
Ardimuk did some calculating in his head, "... 1,657 new men plus 1,178 from the garrison is... I figure 2,835. Not quite enough to bring all three kantoro up to full strength, but it's close. I'm not counting any of these new groups that are running all over the province... er countryside, calling themselves kantoro of the Aatanian military. There's at least forty or fifty different groups claiming to be Aatanian kantoro that we are not even in contact with. They certainly aren't under my command. Or yours either unless there's something I don't know. They're actually under the command of the local Aat clan chiefs and at least one Trond Chieftain named Gesanie."
"These guys call themselves a kantora but they aren't. They usually don't even have spears. How can you be a phalanx without spears? They're actually just Aat traditional warbands. Except Gesanie's men. They're more like a real kantora. I sent men out to spy on him they reported that he has at least 400 men under arms and somebody out there must be an Imperial Army veteran because they all have homemade spears of regulation army length and homemade wooden shields and they were practicing Imperial Army formations. Tronds normally don't carry shields. or spears either. They go more for bows and arrows and their traditional warhammers.
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Post by Wanderjar on Feb 18, 2007 16:59:13 GMT -5
Ardimuk says, "It depends on how you count them. We had 1,376 men before the declaration of independence. 198 have deserted since then, probably because they don't want to be part of this. That leaves 1,178 men from the Imperial garrison. We've had 2,119 new volunteers since the declaration of independence, but they are completely untrained and have no equipment except an oddball collection of weapons they brought with them and no armor. Of those 2,119 new volunteers, 362 changed their minds and have deserted already. So the total number of men under my command at last count was..." Ardimuk did some calculating in his head, "... 1,657 new men plus 1,178 from the garrison is... I figure 2,835. Not quite enough to bring all three kantoro up to full strength, but it's close. I'm not counting any of these new groups that are running all over the province... er countryside, calling themselves kantoro of the Aatanian military. There's at least forty or fifty different groups claiming to be Aatanian kantoro that we are not even in contact with. They certainly aren't under my command. Or yours either unless there's something I don't know. They're actually under the command of the local Aat clan chiefs and at least one Trond Chieftain named Gesanie." "These guys call themselves a kantora but they aren't. They usually don't even have spears. How can you be a phalanx without spears? They're actually just Aat traditional warbands. Except Gesanie's men. They're more like a real kantora. I sent men out to spy on him they reported that he has at least 400 men under arms and somebody out there must be an Imperial Army veteran because they all have homemade spears of regulation army length and homemade wooden shields and they were practicing Imperial Army formations. Tronds normally don't carry shields. or spears either. They go more for bows and arrows and their traditional warhammers. "First of all, I wouldn't consider a lack of spears to necessarily be a bad thing. If we were to engage an Imperial Kantora with swordsmen, and hit them from the rear, they would be slaughtered. Think tactically my friend, but not always conventionally. Ask their leaders to meet with me, so I can help them organize. I'd like to get the entire Aatanian Military gathered here in the Capital for training and readying for combat, but lets begin with harnassing those rogue elements, shall we?"
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Post by Gamemaster on Feb 19, 2007 9:16:57 GMT -5
Ardimuk says, "If you can attack a kantora by surprise from behind, then it would be fine to attack with swordsmen or spearmen, either one. But if you attack from the front, or if they so much as have time to turn around, swordsmen would be at a terrible disadvantage. That's the whole point of a phalanx. It's a wall of spearpoints. It's hard to get past the spearpoints to get at the men and if you do, there's still a wall of shields between you and them. We haven't had to actually fight a serious war in a very long time, but we in the Army still have some idea of how it's done. I'll see how many of these new units can be convinced to come to town."
With that, Ardimuk set out.
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Post by Wanderjar on Feb 19, 2007 13:36:14 GMT -5
"Jezefar, might I inquire one small thing?" Wanderjar asked. Before Jezefar could respond, Wanderjar continued, "I feel that it would be invaluable to have a large ranged force. Do you believe it possible to train troops whom are capable of using bows and arrows? Also, to add to this, a force of Cavalry Archers? This I believe could make a war against our forces true hell for the enemy, and also we would be able to slaughter their troops without losing any of our own. Just an inquiry."
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Post by Gamemaster on Feb 23, 2007 8:34:33 GMT -5
Jezefar says, "I do not know if it is possible to shoot arrows accurately from a horse. As for ranged weapons, allow me to suggest the traditional Aat sling rather than the bow. A lot more of our people are expert at using them. But I suppose it would be possible to train them in the use of the bow and arrow if need be."
(OOC: Yes, I am well aware that horse archers are possible. Mongol cavalry, samurai, etc. It's Jezefar who has never heard of such a thing. Wanderjar has never heard of such a thing either. They may not exist in the known world of the Zekresh Empire.)
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Post by Wanderjar on Feb 25, 2007 11:48:16 GMT -5
Jezefar says, "I do not know if it is possible to shoot arrows accurately from a horse. As for ranged weapons, allow me to suggest the traditional Aat sling rather than the bow. A lot more of our people are expert at using them. But I suppose it would be possible to train them in the use of the bow and arrow if need be." (OOC: Yes, I am well aware that horse archers are possible. Mongol cavalry, samurai, etc. It's Jezefar who has never heard of such a thing. Wanderjar has never heard of such a thing either. They may not exist in the known world of the Zekresh Empire.) (OOC: I know mate, I'm just hoping to create my own type of warfare, in order to use it against the Zekresh and in essence confuse the hell out of their Commanders as to why we won't stand and fight.) IC: "My friend, I know its a new concept. However I think that if we do it, and can combine a mastery of riding with a mastery of Archery, we can truly make a potent force. Think about it: mass Kantoro advancing on Aatan and then our massive cavalry squadrons swarm around them, picking them apart with volley after volley of continous arrows. They'd never touch us, but we'd kill thousands of their troops! Unconventional yes, but I'm not of the school of thought for honor and chivalry on the battlefield. I believe in victory. We'll need every advantage we can possibly scrape up too. They have more training and more men than we, but if we can kill a hundred of their men for every one of ours, we can potentially do some serious damage. What say you?"
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Post by Gamemaster on Feb 25, 2007 16:33:51 GMT -5
Jezefar says, "I must apologize. There have been times when I have felt resentment that you brought so many other advisors with you instead of relying on my counsel as your predecessor Emufar did. But now I realize the wisdom. I am not a military man. I must defer this question to Korifar, your military advisor. That reminds me, one of the other advisors you brought with you has been seeking an audience with you and I have been putting him off because there were so many pressing matters. It is the one named Talajar. He wishes to speak to you whenever it is convenient."
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Post by Wanderjar on Feb 25, 2007 21:26:52 GMT -5
Jezefar says, "I must apologize. There have been times when I have felt resentment that you brought so many other advisors with you instead of relying on my counsel as your predecessor Emufar did. But now I realize the wisdom. I am not a military man. I must defer this question to Korifar, your military advisor. That reminds me, one of the other advisors you brought with you has been seeking an audience with you and I have been putting him off because there were so many pressing matters. It is the one named Talajar. He wishes to speak to you whenever it is convenient." "First of all, there is no need to apologize. I understand completely." Wanderjar smiled, stood from his chair and walked over to Jezefar. He stretched out his arm and laid a hand of Jezefar's shoulder. "I'm not sure what I'd do without you as my aide! But I am glad that you have realized that you cannot do everything, sometimes you must conceed that others may have a different specialization than you. There is not dishonor in this, it is merely a fact of life. We'll continue this conversation later though, shall we? There is no such thing as inconveiniance (bad spelling, sorry), with me, speak to me about any concerns anytime. Thats why we're free me! Send Talajar in whenever he wishes."
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Post by Gamemaster on Feb 25, 2007 22:23:23 GMT -5
After Jezefar has gone, Talajar enters the Ulor's office.
Sorry to disturb you, Wanderjar, but I wish to request that you give me some work to do, some responsibilities. When you were sending in you application for Ulor and you asked me and the others if we would work with you if you got the appointment, there was talk of us ruling parts of Aatan. Now that Aatan is no longer a province, but an independent nation once again, it seems to make even more sense that Aatan should be divided into provindes and that I and the others who were recruited for this task be made into provincial Ulors... er, chiefs or sub-Ulors or some title. But give me some important part in this, please."
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Post by Gamemaster on Feb 25, 2007 22:30:56 GMT -5
Talajar adds, "If you'd like, my first task could be to come up with a proposal on how to divide Aatan into provinces. If I had funds to hire a mapmaker, I could prepare a map that would show such provinces."
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Post by Wanderjar on Feb 28, 2007 12:46:51 GMT -5
After Jezefar has gone, Talajar enters the Ulor's office. Sorry to disturb you, Wanderjar, but I wish to request that you give me some work to do, some responsibilities. When you were sending in you application for Ulor and you asked me and the others if we would work with you if you got the appointment, there was talk of us ruling parts of Aatan. Now that Aatan is no longer a province, but an independent nation once again, it seems to make even more sense that Aatan should be divided into provindes and that I and the others who were recruited for this task be made into provincial Ulors... er, chiefs or sub-Ulors or some title. But give me some important part in this, please." "I apologize for not doing anything sooner. Please forgive my neglegence. I assure you the last thing I want is to alienate my comrades. So yes, your proposition to create a map and create provinces would be great. Also, as I have stated before, the new "Freedom Papers" as I call it is in need of preparation. Everyone involved in the Government, including tribal leaders who are going to be the first leaders of our new nation, are to come assist. We should get this hammered out too. One issue at the "Convention" as I believe it is appropriate to call it, should be dividing into provinces, so that everything is fair and equal as far as taxation, subsidies for production, etc, should go. Other issues of percieved importance should be brought up there. I find this to be important to the continued future of our nation, and the success of this noble venture which we've started. Thank you for your concerns. I believe that through the convention, and making you all members of the first *insert Aat word for Disscussion Group ultimately referring to Parliament or Congress here*. You all have quite an honor. We shal work on this there. This Government must be both independent, but free from tyranny from within as well. What say you?"
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Post by Gamemaster on Feb 28, 2007 15:26:59 GMT -5
Talajar says, "That sounds good. I'll get to work on a map."
(OOC: there is no word for "parliament" in the Aat language because there is no such institution in Aat custom. There isn't even any tradition of central government. The whole idea of government is associated with the Empire for virtually all Aats. The gathering of clan chiefs is traditional, but it does not make decisions that all clans must abide by nor does it hold votes. The gathering of clan chiefs is essentially a council of war where clan chiefs would come together to discuss war plans and sometimes to coordinate them with each other. But the Aat method of warfare generally requires no coordination. Each clan operates independently or with a few other clans skirmishing with enemies in small engagements and retreating to mountain strongholds. Enemies are destroyed or driven off by a war of attrition that is waged against enemy warriors and civilians alike. No one is spared, though women and children of enemy tribes were sometimes enslaved rather than killed. There is no special term for a gathering of clan chiefs. It is called simply a "gathering of clan chiefs", the same phrase that was used repeatedly by the clan chiefs who came to visit you. In the Aat language, this is "friven buh pandenet". "Friven" means a gathering or meeting. "Buh" means "of". "Pand" means a clan. "Panden" means a clan chief. "Pandenet" is the plural form of clan chief. In general, an "et" suffix makes a word plural in the Aat language. You will notice that the grammar of the Aat language involves putting the adjective before the noun, as in English. In the Zekresh language, the adjective comes after the noun.)
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