Using the skills Aslan gave you (Private, Eyvind)

[Veleraen]

Meeting did not occur. Veleraen is not in Sheria at all in Autumn XIV or Winter Era XV

[Eyvind Redbeard]

The Pikemen were forming up decently. With but a few Brightenings of training the recruits of the new Provincial Army had managed to understand how to hold a pike, a shield and the weight of their new armors in a suitable formation. With the short time that he had been given Eyvind had decided to train the men as Phalanx Pikemen. They wouldn't need to advance fast nor to assault trenches. That would be something for the Legionnaires and the Provincial Swordsmen to do. The Pikemen would just hold the line against the unending Orc wave, their pikes piercing through the greenskins' ranks and the pavise positioned before them defending the soldiers from arrows and thrown spears. They would be vulnerable in their flanks but they wouldn't be fighting alone, or so he hoped. They were the core and bulk of the Provincial Army and they were his duty to train.

In the few Brightenings spent with the men he had the chance of knowing them better. All good men, willing to fight for their Province and some even dared to say they didn't fear death. They would all fit their positions within the Phalanx but they didn't know how to lead men, he couldn't choose one and place him in charge of the whole group. The strongest and most battered would give good sergeants but there were few who could rise to become Officers. For his misfortune the Cencoris couldn't let some of his own Officers to move to the Provincial Army. That would mean having the Black Shields crippled and they were the Elite of the Manjet. It was a dilemma the Vagaran had been muttering for a while now. With some luck someone would answer to the announce he had mailed to the Herald.

"Sir."

"Yes?"

A voice said behind him waking him of his thoughts. The red haired man turned and saw a mounted scout and behind him still approaching was an armored giant carrying a halberd and with a giant golden falcon on the shoulder. The Vagaran recognized the Giant before the mounted scout could answer to his question. The Knight was a figure Eyvind would never forget, he had admired the Giant's honorable path from the moment he met him and now but force of fate or some strange coincidence they were meeting again. Many things had changed since their last meeting, Veleraen seemed to have left the Order of the Black Rose or he wouldn't be standing before him and he, Eyvind, had became an Imperial Officer, rising in the ranks and receiving important tasks such as the one of preparing this Provincial Army.

"There is a Knight who goes by the name of Sir Veleraen who I found in the road. He mentioned he was interested in helping in the fight against the Orcs. He also requested to see you, Sir."

The Cencoris nodded, his eyes don't leaving the Giant.

"I will receive him, you’re dismissed."

"Yes, Sir."

The mounted scout saluted and turned his horse riding past Veleraen. As for Eyvind he walked in the direction of the Knight, would he recognize him too? When they met the Vagaran was a simple recruit in the Jade Legion, one among countless hundreds in the Legion and one among countless thousands in Aelyria Prime. He stopped in front of the Giant and looked up to him. With a nod he greeted him.

"Serale, Sir Veleraen. What brings you to this southern Province of the Empire? My man told me you want to behead an Orc or twenty, I like to have you on our side."

He paused for a moment.

"Welcome to Sheria."

[Veleraen]

No longer here.

[Eyvind Redbeard]

The red-haired Vagaran gave Veleraen a wide and true smile. The simplicity and the direct way the Giant had of talking was something Eyvind praised a lot. Too many formalities made things slow and being slow in a war could cost you a battle if not the entire campaign.

"The one and only, Sir Knight. And they called me Acting Provost of the 9th as well, but I leave that title in the Office."

The Cencoris watch amazed as the huge Golden Falcon shoot up to the sky above, then he returned his gaze to the Knight. Having this experienced man at his side was a gift from Aslan for sure, what else could he ask more? A battle-hardened Giant with experience in killing Orcs and the capability of leading men for sure. Redbeard silently sent a pray to the World-Bound thanking him.

"Indeed, these attacks can't go unaswered. And that is why I am organizing this Provincial Army, the Sherian Serpents, to help the Imperial Legions in smashing the greenskins' holds. Reports say they've occupied Narim for good, or for bad. I don't have idea of how many the Orcs may be, but I am sure it isn't a simple warband. They probably match the Legions man to man, and you know they are resilient and stubborn."

The Imperial Officer paused for a moment thinking and scratching his chin.

"You see...the real problem in Sheria is that its people isn't used to see big armies, therefore they lack the natural skill to lead men. Give give one Aeternia of Sergeants, that is for sure, but when it comes to leading thousands of men, five thousand to be exact. The number of men in a Provincial Regiment, they oftenly break discipline.

Since you've came here to help in the war effort I'd like to promote you to Regimental Commander of the Provincial Army. You'll be assigned the Second Regiment."

An almost childish grin appeared on his face.

"And I think you will like to meet with the Commander of the First Regiment. He was there too, in Prime, when we first met."

The time to relax and remember the past was over, Eyvind straightned his back and pointed a dirt road between a line of tents. He spoke as he walked.

"Your skills with the halberd will be of great help to us. We've elected the halberd as one of the standard weapons of the Provincial Army, and all Regiments have a detachment of Halberdiers. They are the middle-term between the Pikemen and the Heavy Infantry, good to hack both infantry and cavalry, mobile enough to follow up the light troops and together they can form a powerful spear wall.

Your hat is now that of a Flag Officer of this army. Everything you need, just send a letter to my office in Darkblade Fortress."

The Vagaran secretly wanted to ask for sorry to the Aslanite Knight but there was so much to be done...

[Veleraen]

No longer here.

[Eyvind Redbeard]

The red-haird Vagaran nodded thankfully to the Giant, his promotion had been a surprise for him as well but he couldn't refuse it. It had been something like an order, and orders were to be obeyed. The Knight's surprise in knowning how many men he was about to command was something Eyvind already expected.

"Yes, my friend. Five thousand men. I know it is an heavy burden to carry, so many lives, the difficulties of the logistics, the training, the discipline and so on. But who else is more fit than you to the task? Certainly not the woodsman nor the fisherman. I was given the heaviest burden of all, Veleraen. It is not only Regiment that is under my command but the whole of the Provincial Army and part of the Legions themselves...more than one hundred thousand men. And I will be honest with you, since this is something you can easily see in me without a word being spoken. This is my first war. I never commanded men in a battle bigger than a hunt to a Prime Lion or against a mob of rioters in Old Prime.

When the time comes I will lead the Serpents to war, all the Regiments lined up, side by side. But a single man can't control everything and everyone, I need people capable of dealing with hazardous situations, people I can trust, people who may fail, not due to lack of will or intelligence but because the situation was impossible to overcome. Veleraen, I wouldn't ask this of you if I had another choice. I have twenty Regiments to prepare, and until now only one has a Commander. The other nineteen need abled men, and although the Legions have good Officers I can't remove them from it or else who will command the Legionnaires? It's a dilemma, but aren't all things in life?"

He tried a smile, but his face looked tired. The task of organizing everything was too great for a single man and although he had an iron will and grasp for military strategy this was his first time. He felt as rocky as the recruits they had received the Cycle before. They continued walking and from time to time Eyvind pointed the Giant the places where men were training a variety of weapons and strategies under the gaze of some Drill Sergeants borrowed from the Legions.

"Yes, the Minotaur. Aegis Labyrinthine, now ranked as Regimental Commander of the First Regiment of the Provincial Army of Sheria, The Wild Flames of the Sherian Serpents."

He paused for a moment and they kept walking until they reached a another camp of tents. With a whistle Eyvind called a trompeteer. The man rushed to him and after saluting the Officer stood there waiting for orders.

"Call them."

The trompeteer nodded and blowed his instrument. The sound echoed through the fields and some heads started popping out of some tents. Another blow made more heads pop out and a third had all the men leaving the tents and walking to a clear area nearby.

"This is your Regiment. They are fresh from recruitment. All they know his how to march and walk in an organized way. Your base of operations shall be the northern stronghold of Draelmar Hold. After you have your men ready or at least prepared in the minimum here you must march north and settle there. A group of the Engineer Corps will follow with you to restore some parts of the stronghold and build trenches around it. It will be our main base in the north. Aegis will be stationed in Everdark Keep, in the center of Sheria.

This is a big task I ask you to accomplish, but I won't leave you alone. You will receive help."

[Veleraen]

No longer here.