Summary: Yvain's angry because Maksym's flood destroyed a chunk of Holwinn. Now he's marching against Maksym, and possibly the Kaiser if the Kaiser stands in his way. He's got to go through the Barony of Neurac to get there."I got me a bad premonition 'bout this," said Sir Aprowys. "'Tisn't right to go marchin' against one's own feudal lord."
"Tell me," asked Yvain, "What is feudalism?"
Sir Aprowys of Synthera hesitated. "Why, I reckon it's when you serve the guy on top a' you, and he serves the guy on top a' him, and so on up to the guy on the top of everyone."
"Well put," said Yvain, "and yet, only half correct. Feudalism is when you serve the guy on top of you, and in exchange, he protects you. Why do we serve the Kaiser? Because he brings peace and prosperity to our lands. Or, rather, brought them."
Looking out the window of the train, there was no reason to think that Ynnraile had recently suffered catastrophe. They were on the east coast, overlooking the ocean, and it was the west bank that had been devastated. Yvain hadn't been there yet. He knew he would have to go soon. But the stories he had heard were terrifying. Huge walls of water, swallowing whole villages. And all because Baron Hadjimehmetov of K'Tzuni had wanted a quick victory against the Elwynnese.
It had been Yvain's original plan to support his liege lord, the Kaiser, and attack Elwynn to the north. But Count Andelarion of Eliria had come to Avakair and discussed matters with him, and he had come to realize the logic behind the rebel cause. Faced with two equal but opposite duties, he could not bring himself to shed his people's blood for either of them, and had decided upon a course of neutrality. It shamed him to merely watch as Shirekeep burned, but under the circumstances he could not bring himself to do otherwise.
Then he had received news of the flooding. He had seen the face of Count Aradas as his courier brought him the message. At first, Yvain had been confused. How had Maksym contrived to destroy Islus and Shirekeep without inflicting equal damage on his friends on Ynnraile? It was only a few minutes before the first courier arrived to tell Yvain there had been no such contrivance. When the first report of the dead poured in, the army camped outside Avakair finally had somewhere to march.
The easiest way south to K'Tzuni was the Avakair - Goldshire railroad, which terminated in Ran. The people of Neurac were under the direct control of the Duke of Brookshire, Erik Mortis, who seemed to have gone missing early in the war. As such, Yvain assumed they would be weak and fragmented. He waited until most of the trains were on the Ynnraile half of the border, and then seized control. The first batch of troops had now arrived in Goldshire Hamlet, the Ynnraile flag was flying over the train station, and a secure perimeter had been established around the station against any resistance, which so far had failed to materialize. Unfortunately, the existence or nonexistence of Neurackian forces was a complete unknown; however, Yvain assumed whatever recruits the local government found could be quickly dispatched.
Once the whole army was in Goldshire Hamlet, the counties of Ran and the city of Teldrin in Upper Lunaris would be annexed to Ynnraile. Then, hopefully with the help of Zjandarian aircraft and Avakairian destroyers, Yvain would attempt the dangerous crossing of the Elwynn, and from there march to K'Tzuni to give the Baron a piece of his mind.
Come to think of it, that course would take him through Monty Crisco and Alexandretta, wouldn't it? The latest rumors had placed the Kaiser there - under K'Tzuni protection. Well, if Yvain met him, he would certainly give him a piece of his mind.
"This train is now approaching...Goldshire Hamlet. This will be our final stop. Please prepare for disembarkation." Ahead, Yvain could see the old but stately train station, the Ynnraile flag waving from its roof. Well, the last troops were now arriving. Soon, the hard part would begin.
[OOC: If the Barony of Neurac wants to resist, can they give me some information about who's in charge and what/where their forces are? If they don't want to resist, that's fine too.]