Denerick's Council of Leaders (November)
Denerick Summons the Council
Denerick has called his first meeting of the Council of Leaders, in the new capital, Mhowe, sending out posh invites to all the known members. Lukas and Mara arrive and see that the militia is out in force on the streets and they are questioned when they arrive until they identify themselves.
Council of Leaders
The meeting is held in the small Mayor’s Palace. In attendance are Denerick, Peter Rogers – new Mayor of Mhowe, Aiden – in full religious regalia, Hari, Suleiman, Lukas and Mara. Peter Rogers greets each of them and shows them into a room where Denerick is sat on a small throne above a large table.
Denerick then greets them all and is pleased to see Mara. Sulieman says this looks like everyone who is coming. Yuri will not come, nor will Charrek who is the Chimaera’s pet. Hakim may be persuaded to join when Suleiman finds the time to visit him.
Denericka
Denerick makes a small speech as Prince of the Realm. He says the first order of business is to rename the country. It can’t be called the Chimaeron – she is useless and evil. He begins to beat around the bush about what to call the new realm, until Peter Rogers rolls his eyes and proposes the new name – Denericka.
Sulieman says that is a name worthy of a Prince. Lukas agrees. Mara says what about calling the place the Iron Peaks. Denerick says that’s so boring, who wants to name the place after some mountains. Mara asks if Denerick thinks that is too egotistical. Denerick says it will be a bold and radical change that will make a statement the rule of the Chimaera is over.
They agree to name the country Denericka, some a little reluctantly, but Denerick is pleased.
Magical Battles
Denerick then introduces Avacerra, the senior of the Three Brother Mages, to talk about the Chimaera. He is an elderly Khinasi with a beard and turban. He tells they are descended from powerful bloodlines for the manipulation of magic.
They came here a while ago and have been contesting magic with the Chimaera. She is a powerful enemy, but her own insanity has always unmind her. Recently her power base collapsed and they have defeated her, driven her further north than ever before.
Servants bring in some silk cloth and Avercerra starts burning smokey incense of different colours and casting some sort of magic. The smoke begins to form into a shape, a map of the country, showing that the Brother Mages now control the magic sources as far north as Lyssan, controlling the majority of them. The Chimaera is mostly isolated in Rourke.
Hamein
Avercerra then invites Sulieman to talk about Hamein. Sulieman says Yuri is still in control there and has an army unit. Also, Mayor Vlad is not dead. Hari is furious at this revelation, as he cut Vlad’s throat and thought he was dead.
They must defeat Yuri and take Hamein. Sulieman tried to get Vlad’s rival to take over in Denerick’s name, but Yuri used his soldiers to put down this uprising. Avercerra says he could have helped with this, but Sulieman says the rival was impulsive and acted without communicating.
Avercerra tells them they have magical control over Hamein and this should be their first target. He says Mara can help by disrupting her magical holdings around Careine. He will have his younger brother Rassan co-ordinate with her. He has a tower west of Luandar.
Power Shift
They can then corner the Chimaera and remove her forever. Then they can change the fortunate of the land. His brothers are not just magicians, they are also traders. They can bring new wealth and prosperity to these lands. Denericka sits on a pivotal position between East and West. Trade across the Iron Peaks could make them all rich. This is agreed as the future plan.
Denerick then clarifies that Lukas now rules in Lyssan and Luandar, where there is an empty seat. Peter Rogers is now the rule in Mhowe, his former right-hand man. Sulieman will represent Hamein, though he is currently in Lyssan until Hamein is secured properly.
Denerick then asks about Hakim. Mara tells the Council she has spoken to him and he wants to sit out the conflict. He is open to dialogue is Sulieman or one of the Three Brother Mages went to see him, he may be persuaded. Sulieman says he will visit.
Yuri and his Allies
Denerick says that Charrek is a friend of the Chimaera and he cannot be won over. He is loyal to her and will have to be forcibly removed. Both Charrek and Yuri will have to be executed.
Discussion then turns to Yuri and what his plans are. Lukas and Mara confirm his plan is to take back Lyssan. Sulieman says he and Lukas should return to Lyssan quickly, as soon as this meeting is over.
Denerick then asks Lukas what his plan is to protect the City. Lukas has the City Militia and extra militia from Luandar. They have found the underground tunnels and are guarding all the known entrances to them. Yuri definitely knows them better though and he could use more men with better training.
Battle Plans
Sulieman confirms more soldiers are needed. There are the goblins in Hamein, which are good for raiding, but unlikely to overcome the soldiers stationed in Hamein.
Avecerra offers to use magic to help take Hamein. His brother Meggano controls the goblins and he is drawing up a special magical soldiers who may be able to help as well. They will still need to recruit soldiers.
Peter Rogers says they need more money to do this. The funds that Denerick used to take Lyssan has been spent. Sulieman says he needs two units of troops to take Hamein. That will cost around 8,000 gold pieces to fund.
Mara tells them that she has used her spies to get about 40 or so men who were stationed in Hamein to return to Cariene.
Peter Rogers says the pirates who helped take Lyssan may not want to become soldiers and will likely want to return to their ships unless they are given a lot of money.
Mustering Soldiers
Denerick tasks them to find the money and raise the soldiers he needs to secure the realm. Aidan offers to raise the faithful of Nesiere to make an army unit who will follow their Prince. They won’t be well trained though.
Mara offers the support of her cavalry, but Sulieman says they will not help take the town, but they can defeat Yuri’s troops on the battle field. However, they can use intrigue. Mara could offer to add her cavalry to his men to draw them out of Hamein to fight the goblins, then turn on them.
Mara is nervous about this, she does not want to lose her cavalry. Avecerra offers magical support to protect them and keep them back, let Yuri’s troops do most of the fighting and then when they call in the cavalry, turn on them.
Sulieman offers to co-ordinate the plan and make it happen. Communication with Cariene will be difficult as the City is still within the Chimaera’s magical influence, so he cannot use his flying carpet to get there. She offers to establish a watch station where he can send communications.
Denerick is pleased that the plan is coming together and starts to bring the meeting to an end, but Peter Rogers reminds him they need to sort out raising money and soldiers. Peter Rogers tells Aidan to bring his volunteers to Mhowe for training.
Mara does not want her soldiers killed when nowhere else has raised soldiers. She has 20 or so Orogs as well, not quite enough to make much difference. Peter suggests she keep them back to defend Cariene.
Money
Hari points out that he contributed men to the attack in Lyssan. Aidan says there is still 1,000gp in the treasury that could help as well. There are also contributed from Council Members at the end of this month. He then attempts to review the payments from each province to the treasury, but Hari suggests leaving the contributions at the same rates as before, which is agreed.
Sulieman is upset though when Aidan says the payments are due in December, which is a month away. Armies will not want to march when it is so cold, action is needed now. They agree that members will send the money as soon as they can.
Denerick then proposes bringing the treasury to Mhowe and keep the funds located here, which Aidan agrees to.
The Prince of Denericka then makes a speech thanking them for their loyalty and hard work and leaves the rest to them.
Getting Down to Business
After he is gone, Peter Rogers takes over the meeting and begins giving orders to members to facilitate the raising of soldiers. He has Lukas arrange for cheap weapons from the armouries in Lyssan, which he says he will do his best towards.
Lukas proposes a loyal man from Luandar to take over there in his place, so he can concentrate on Lyssan, which is agreed.
Peter Rogers then makes a number of other administrative arrangements to get things to happen, confirming various things discussed earlier. He asks Lukas to help provide weapons as he has control of Yuri’s armaments business in Lyssan now.
Lukas also suggests that his deputy who is running Lyssan for him, while he runs the capital, come to future Council meetings.
Peter then ends the meeting.
Leave in a Hurry
Sulieman is very nervous about Lyssan and has Lukas return there immediately, as he could launch his attempt to take back the City at any moment. Lukas heads off in a hurry.