Over the course of the last three weeks, Carlo managed to get his forces in order. His Guard Force was now an elite cadre of troops, well-honed fighters who could take on even the best regiments of the Empire and have a decent chance to put them to flight. He had equipped them in Dwarf-made plate, wielding Dwarf-made pikes, Dwarf-made sallet helms, and Dwarf-made longswords. He also managed to train up nine hundred of his militia, a full one-hundred-fifty more than he had anticipated. Fortunately, he had been able to tack on extra sets of Dwarf-made chainmail, dwarf-made kettle helms, and dwarf-made pikes for his additional company trained. Those nine-hundred militia were now slightly less well-trained than his guard forces. Sadly, because of the extra militia trained, and the need for extra sets of armor and weapons to be made, any cannons that Carlo had wished to purchase from the Dwarves of Karak Izor would need to wait until the guilders from the sale of spices arrived,
Speaking of those guilders arriving, they did so one day into the fifth week of training. Admiral Karolski explained the delay as necessary to fend off an attack by Greenskin pirates. However, they had managed to bring in the money without losing a single guilder and with minimal casualties among the crews of the ships, mostly from Greenskin boarders. With over a million and a half guilders now in his war chest, Carlo could now dispatch funds to rebuild the raided villages. One-hundred-fifty of his militia moved to aid in the reconstruction, while one-hundred-fifty remained behind as a training cadre to train up the last two militia companies, who, thanks to the purchase of Dwarf-made equipment for the other six companies and the two guard companies, now had concentrated the best of the prior hodgepodge to themselves. One company was equipped in chain armor, kettle helms, parma-style shields, and longswords, the other had crossbows and wore boiled leather over padded jacks as well as kettle helms. Carlo didn't expect the training cadre to do more than improve their drill a little and perhaps make them a bit hardier, but if Khypris attacked while he was busy with Bouellia, they would be needed. However, he was planning on having Karoline Blaumann stall Khypris with negotiations so that hopefully, it would not be necessary.
"So, you wish for me to actually entertain their demands for a redrawing of the border as a ruse?" Asked Karoline Blaumann.
"Do you not think it will work?" Responded Carlo.
"Oh, it might. Prince Faramond is keener on military and economic matters than he is on diplomatic ones. His diplomatic advisors tend to be somewhat mediocre. The problem is that if we appear too eager to redraw the border, even a mediocre diplomat will be able to catch on to something fishy. We have been quite adamant in our rejection of their demands to do so in the past." Frowned Karoline Blaumann.
"Would they simply not put that down to a change in leadership?" Questioned Carlo.
"Not necessarily. Not with the de Roelef family still backing us. Most viewed Maartin van den Meer as just a de Roelef puppet. They may hold the same views of any new Prince. If the de Roelefs haven't changed or pulled out, Khypris may see it as no leadership having changed at all." Pointed out Karoline Blaumann.
"So you're saying you can't do it?" Pressed Carlo.
"I didn't say that. Merely that it will be a challenge. I like challenges, and it is so rare that I get to enjoy a diplomatic exchange with Khypris." Intoned Karoline Blaumann.
"So you'll do it?" Asked Carlo.
"Of course. The trick will be in not appearing too eager. Maybe we can suggest we would be open to such a redrawing through a third party, Myrmidens for example. That should make Khypris come to us for it, which would make it seem as if we are reluctant to agree. Something to think about, at any rate. Now, however, I have something special for you. If you are to go off to war, you need to be properly outfitted. We managed to sell enough black powder this past month to commission something for your use in battle. Come see." Grinned Karoline Blaumann, switching topics.
Carlo was led to the armory of the citadel of Ijssel where he saw the surprise waiting for him. Somehow, Karoline had managed to wheedle the Dwarves of Karak Izor to craft a suit of Miraglanese-style Full Plate for Carlo. It was magnificent, runic designs were etched in gold around the armor that seemed to stand out to Carlo's senses. At the side of the armor was a longsword that seemed to be similarly crafted, with golden-etched runic designs along the blade.
"It was your wife's idea to ask for such things. We had to give Karak Izor both a hefty payment and a half-off discount on copper from Bouellia's mines once we take the Grande Duchy from now until the next seven generations, but we managed it. It helps that King Grimbrow is a friend of mine. Without that, I don't think we'd have gotten the deal at all." Explained Karoline Blaumann.
"What are those gold designs?" Queried Carlo.
"Supposedly those are uncharged runes etched in something King Grimbrow's Master Goldsmith called Sungold. By themselves, they won't do anything, since they have not been charged up by a runesmith, but they look pretty and the Sungold can take an enchantment almost as well as Gromril. Supposedly if we were to hire a wizard to enchant the Sungold runes for you, it would turn out to be more potent than they otherwise would, thanks to the Sungold and rune designs. Not as good as if you got those runes charged up by a Dwarven Runesmith, but even paid for by friends, the Dwarves don't just give those sorts of things out to Humans." Shrugged Karoline Blaumann.
Carlo felt drawn to the runes, however, as if he could channel whatever mystical power had been granted to him from Myrmidia to actually get full functionality out of the rune schemes. "What runes are those?" He asked.
"The armor has uncharged runes of fortitude, resistance, and steel, the sword has uncharged runes of Sunfire, might, and swiftness. Why? They won't work for you. They're uncharged." Replied Karoline Blaumann, quizzically.
"I'm curious." Shrugged Carlo.
"Well, when you march out at the end of the week, do not forget to don this equipment. We paid good gold and had to make a steep concession for it." Reminded Karoline Blaumann.
Of course, news for the past month had not been simply that of the increased wars in Tilea that had been brought back by Admiral Karolski. The Border Principalities too had issues. News had come from the east that Masserschloss had seen an attempted coup by a Necromancer named Bragthorn who had recently established himself in the mountains nearby. The coup attempt had failed thanks to Masserschloss and Akendorf working together, an odd occurrence from two rivals, though not an unwelcome one.
What was unwelcome was the news that after almost five weeks of ambushes and skirmishes, the forces of Quaterain had finally been forced to abandon their guerilla campaign due to the arrival of the full might of Bouellia arriving in the borderland. The Seigneurie of Quaterain was now fully under the control of Duc Ferenc de Savoie, with what forces remained to the Seigneur having fled deeper into the bogs near the village of Quaterain proper to wait out the occupation. It would only take a few days for Ferenc's forces to rest and recuperate, after which they would begin crossing the border into Ijssel. That was something that Carlo would not allow.
So, before that time came, Carlo kissed his new wife, donned his new Dwarf-made panoply, mounted his horse, and mustered his forces. Between guards, mercenaries, and militia, some one-thousand-three-hundred-fifty troops, all drilled to exacting standards, most equipped in dwarf-made equipment, would move north to face Duc Ferenc de Savoie and his three-hundred-eighty professionals backed by seven-hundred-forty-five levies. The war with Bouellia had begun and the first clash would actually be inside the border. More of a skirmish, really, as Carlo and his professional guardsmen would face one-hundred-forty mounted knights of Bouellia as they did reconnaissance south of the border into Issjel.
The Skirmish would take place near the small village of Eechlo just south of the Forest of Groenhout near the border with Quaterain. . .
XXXX
AN: So yeah, this is more a transitional chapter meant to lead into the first battle of the war with Bouellia at Eechlo.
The first battle is 140 Brettonian-style Mounted Knights against 300 Tilean-style pikemen. That is a horrible mismatch that won't play out so well for the Knights even disregarding Glorious Solar Bullshit.
Also, yes that is artifact armor and an artifact sword. The dwarves think they're giving him easily enchantable equipment that is otherwise entirely mundane, though well-made. They do not realize that channeling essence into those uncharged, inert, runes will essentially bring them to life as if they'd been fully charged by a runesmith.
Solar exalts are BS like that.
King Kazran Grimbrow of Karak Izor is going to demand to know how Carlo did that when he hears about it, which is going to lead to Carlo being outed as blessed by Myrmidia, which is going to lead to the Priests of the Ancestor gods demanding to be shown proof.
And THAT is going to lead to the Dwarves awakening Mountainfolk powers via the Ancestor Gods doing a little metaphysical tinkering. . .
First, though, the war with Bouellia, stay tuned for that