Mizugami/ThePlan

This was my original plan for how to get the Tepet Legion and the Vermillion Legion relocated to Cherak without starting a war for the Throne, without getting myself executed for treason, and without leaving myself or House Tepet exposed to furious retribution.

The actual plan worked out a little differently.

1. Find out if Elana left anything for me at her estate.
   1. Need to know if she’s talked to anyone in power in Cherak about bringing 2 Legions here
2. If she left nothing, Infallible Messenger her to ask if she has. Tell her she can send her own messenger to me if she wants privacy, or she can answer. Her choice.
   1. If she sends a private IM, my response is to ask her to use whatever influence she has to blunt the inevitable storm whenever the troop movement becomes known.
   2. If she responds to Ranka’s IM, then I’ll dispatch Unconquered Flame and Emerald Dancer after I’ve finished IMing with Ejava.
      1. They’ll carry a sealed message detailing what Ejava said and asking her to use her connections to blunt the storm when the troop movement becomes known.
3. Who authored the Deliberative motion to move our legions to the West? Who were the movers and shakers behind that motion?
4. Infallible Messenger Tepet Ejava
   1. Tepet Elana sends her regards. Her nephew Tepet Mizugami wishes to speak with you on her behalf regarding your current disposition. Please respond via Infallible Messenger between midnight and 7am Cheraki time (though I list it as realm standard time) and wait for my response.
   2. If she sends one to me, my message to her is:
      1. I can get you and both legions to Cherak. This must be to defend Cherak, not to steal the satrap for Tepet or stage a return to the Isle. Political situation here is very difficult. I require your word to sell this plan. House Tepet likely must assume upkeep of Vermillion Legion. This was Elana’s idea. I’m taking over until her convalescence on the Blessed Isle ends. Confirm with her if you must; time is of the essence.
   3. If she gives her word, I respond that I need to know how many men and how much materiel she needs to transport and that more detailed info will be in a sealed note with the commander of the naval force that retrieves her.
5. Use my internship to see Ferem Amosa during the day so it doesn’t look out of the ordinary. Reveal that I can get 2 Realm Legions to defend Cherak.
   1. They’re the Tepet legion and the Vermillion
   2. The Vermillion can be used to rebuild Fort Outweld and garrison it
      1. Cherak will have to cover the material cost, but the Vermillion can do the labor.
      2. This will keep the Vermillion out of Cherak except in small numbers, to minimize policing problems.
      3. This will protect Cherak from Marama’s Fell again and be close enough to move to the city when the Bull returns.
      4. House Tepet will pay for the Vermillion’s upkeep, adding money to Cherak’s economy.
   3. The Tepet legion can be quartered in and around the city
      1. This frees up more of the Watch and Guard for policing
      2. The legion’s upkeep is money into the economy
      3. The legionnaires’ pay adds to the economy
   4. There is an inarguable uptick in Anathema activity in the area. A hero on the order of the Roseblack, not to mention all of the other Terrestrials, will be nice to have around.
   5. The other Great Houses will be upset by this but none of them will send troops to argue the issue. They’re too worried about a battle on the Blessed Isle.
   6. The other Great Houses, however upset, can’t afford to hurt Cherak economically, either. It’s the gateway to the North and Ragara in particular won’t want to lose out on their extensive investments.
   7. This will probably curtail House Ragara’s efforts to turn Cherak into a house satrapy.
   8. I will sell this to V’neef Tegraat.
   9. I will help sell it to Ragara Takar, Ragara Jasir, and Margard Nastani if you wish, or I’ll let you do it.
   10. I will use my contacts and resources to blunt the fallout in the Deliberative.
   11. To get these 2 legions, I need her navy to retrieve them. I can dispatch a couple of cargo vessels to help, but my naval resources aren’t yet extensive.
6. If I sell Ferem Amosa on it, I explain that she should dispatch her navy (I tell her how many ships it will require) on the sly. We don’t want to give House Ragara or Cherak’s other rivals advance warning of this. When the ships and the legions are a day or a few days away, your advisors can be brought into this.
   1. The Vermillion legion can purchase supplies and march to Outweld to bivouac in the field while working.
   2. The Tepet legion can build a field camp within the newest wall of the city that can be developed into a permanent barracks.
   3. The logistics will be difficult with such a short timeframe, but we need the secrecy to prevent Ragara or the Deliberative from doing something to foil it.
7. Make a pitch to Kira’s father.
   1. Deliberative wanted Ejava in the Threshold, she’s still in the Threshold
   2. Two Legions, even with Ejava, will not win the throne
   3. If the Bull conquers Cherak, tribute and trade from the North is over
   4. Backroom pitch
      1. 5 Tepet legions didn’t defeat the Bull, what are 2 going to do?
         1. Best case, they defeat him with terrible losses and those legions aren’t a threat anymore. A general without an army, even the Roseblack, is just 1 Terrestrial.
         2. Worst case, they’re destroyed along with Cherak. No House is going to spare troops to defend Cherak from the Bull anyway, so what’s the loss?
   5. Useful to House Mnemon
      1. Tepet forces in Cherak should stop the attempts by various Houses to turn it into a House satrapy instead of a Realm satrapy. You don’t need other houses getting economically stronger
      2. I personally would be grateful to House Mnemon for getting this movement blessed. I’m certain others in my House would be grateful, as well.
      3. Everybody knows House Tepet is no longer a contender or even a king-maker. At best we’re a spoiler. We can still be a useful ally, though.
8. Make a pitch to V’neef Tegraat
   1. Deliberative wants Ejava in the Threshold, she’s still in the Threshold
   2. Two Legions, even with Ejava, will not win the throne
   3. If the Bull conquers Cherak, tribute and trade from the North is over.
   4. Two Tepet legions should slow down Ragara’s attempts to turn Cherak into a House satrapy
   5. Backroom pitch
      1. 5 Tepet legions didn’t defeat the Bull, what are 2 going to do?
         1. Best case, they defeat him with terrible losses and those legions aren’t a threat anymore. A general without an army, even the Roseblack, is just 1 Terrestrial.
         2. Worst case, they’re destroyed along with Cherak. No House is going to spare troops to defend Cherak from the Bull anyway, so what’s the loss?
9. Make a pitch to Rector Danic
   1. Deliberative wants Ejava in the Threshold, she’s still in the Threshold
   2. Two Legions, even with Ejava, will not win the throne
   3. If the Bull conquers Cherak, tribute and trade from the North is over.
   4. Backroom pitch
      1. 5 Tepet legions didn’t defeat the Bull, what are 2 going to do?
         1. Best case, they defeat him with terrible losses and those legions aren’t a threat anymore. A general without an army, even the Roseblack, is just 1 Terrestrial.
         2. Worst case, they’re destroyed along with Cherak. No House is going to spare troops to defend Cherak from the Bull anyway, so what’s the loss?