The Battle for the East, Defunct

[Goblin voice]

Edril turned to the Breton. "And, you don't think so, Breton?" He grinned. "Then where else would they go? To the strongly defended Narsis, leaving their backs open to impale? No, that they would not do. Their stategists wont turn into flabbing fools over night."

[Gandalf]

"Quiet, please, Jedasha. We're having a debate about just that right now, in case you've forgotten. I've decided I'm going to Almalexia, and that's final. I'm going to get my bow and arrows. And Edril, this is not some civilian uprising, this is a war, just so you know." Sam said, and then he walked out of the council chambers.

[Eltee]

Like one bow will free Almalexia... Shanna thought, smiling faintly.

[MARS]

"I'm surrounded by imbeciles..." Dridyn growled.

[Goblin voice]

Spoiler:

Like one bow will free Almalexia... Shanna thought, smiling faintly.

A shadow sweapt over Edrils eyes as the Breton left the room. Who does that ranger think he is? I bet he's not even a Lawman! Edril thought.

"Apparently you are not the only one." Edril said, facing Dridyn. Then he laughed, slightly.

[VirtualWeasel]

Kilaya stared around at the rest of the Council, finally deciding to speak.
"If anyone goes into those sewers, you'll need someone who can at least blindly predict what the Argonians will do... And you'll need someone who knows their way around those sewers and Old Mournhold.... Any man who goes alone to Almalexia will die. Bretons don't even know what an ego is, clearly."

[Goblin voice]

"You seem to forget that we are no simple men. We are the mighty Dunmer, and concerning that breton he'd better start showing his superiors the respects as he should." Edril said. "But let's forget his arrogance. Speak your mind."

[VirtualWeasel]

"I'm just saying that if you go in the sewers to hunt the Argonians down, you will die because you simply have no idea how their war machine works. If anyone is to go down there, you need an Argonian." Kilaya looked at the doors to the chamber with alarm. He seemed to grow uneasy in his seat, and looked around the room quickly like a threatened insect.

[MARS]

"I vote against the sewers." Dridyn said bluntly.

[Goblin voice]

"So do I. The sewers are to be destroyed to prevent argonian ambushes and infiltration." Edril agreed. "You look distracted argonian." He noted to Kilaya.

[TheBeefSupremacy]

Mordechai made a small but distintly intentional cough. he knew that he had the room's attention.

"The Telvaani is right my friends, many of you seem to be underestimating the threat your country faces with this war. It will not be won with squabbling and resentment."

Mordechai paused momentarily and turned to the councilman behind him who had protested last time he spoke. He was now quiet, his face however did not give the impression of one who was holding his tongue voluntarily. It was clear that he knew Councilman Druzura did not approve of his last outburst.

"A descision must be reached quickly, that much is clear. However this descion must not be made rashly. unplanned action will be infinitely more foolish than no action at all."

"The Lizards have grown powerful, very powerful, the number of slaves they have freed outnumber the combined armies of the great houses alone. Added to the armies of Black Marsh and the An-Xileel they must be coming close to outnumbering you 2-to-1."

"Your advantages clearly will not be found in numbers. The beasts excell in ambush tactics, this must be spun and used to your advantage, meeting them on the field of combat, man to man may not be as foolish as it sounds, your men are better trained and better equipped, many of the Lizards are simply slaves and will prove little match for a Redoran warrior or an Ordinator in one on one combat."

Mordechai paused again and looked from Dunmer to Dunmer, he realised that he had been talking for a while now, the room was silent and all eyes were on him.

"What i am about to propose may anger some of you, but i believe, as i'm sure that many of the sober minded among you will, that a rescue operation is not something you should be attempting now. Almalexia has fallen, attempts to free it cannot be made with large forces and any attack you make with leave you at a disadvantage to the lizards. trust me when i tell you, as i have worked with members of the An-Xileel before, they will have a plan if you attack the city, they are most definately not fools."

"If there truly is a staging ground of theirs to the south then this should be your target. Take as many men as you can spare and meet them in open combat on open ground where you will have the advantage. Cutting them off from their supply lines is the best you can do right now, well.. that and pray, you can pray aswell."

With that Mordechai sighed and scratched his nose. he looked At each of the Councilmen in turn, it was a while before anyone spoke.

[VirtualWeasel]

"I'm... fine. If we just simply destroy the sewers, the entire ground area of the city will collapse into the ground. There are massive citadels under the city, and if you-" Kilaya briskly stopped speaking. He glared around the room, and looked at every area of it.
"I... need to go." Kilaya abruptly stood up, and walked as fast as he could out the door.

[Jingles]

"Were it that simple. The majority of House Indoril's forces are garrisoned at Almalexia. The cream of the Ordinators defend the city, or at least what's left of it. We cannot afford to lose them this early in the fight. We are now torn between striking south, or rescuing those besieged at the city - forcing on us a dilemma that the An-Xileel undoubtedly planned. But for all that planning, I still believe it is at the city's walls they are their weakest. From there they cannot retreat or exercise the mobility their forces pride themselves with. This, without a doubt is the reason they have taken so long to breach the city in the first place."

Voryn glanced at Ko. "Bamz-Amschend is partially functional, for what that's worth. Since the Nerevarine uncovered the ruins, its long been factored into defence plans of the city by the Ordinators. Most of it is mapped out thanks to the Imperial archeological teams that were eager to explore it after the demise of Almalexia, but to the unwary attacker the labyrinthine ruins are littered with traps and pitfalls. Even the Argonians would have trouble navigating their way through, much less trying to fight any defenders. The Alma Rula has always considered it our last chance if the city was breached. A place to retreat to - at the absolute end of need."

[Goblin voice]

Edril looked after the seemingly nervous argonian. what is going on with him? He thought.

"You", he turned to Mordechai. "You suggest that we simply leave our bretheren to die? I have friends and allies since my young days and service as ordinator. I won't see them dead!" Edril exclaimed.

[MARS]

"We must accept that we have to sacrifice many things." Dridyn intervened. "From this point forward we must choose. Either we fight for ourselves and meet our doom or we fight for Morrowind and restore it to its former glory."

[Goblin voice]

"Yes, forgive my frustration." Edril said, falling back into his chair.

Spoiler:

Translation

NOOOOOOOOOO!

[VirtualWeasel]

Kilaya stumbled out of the doors. He looked around, and pulled out a dagger. There was a waver in the light, almost like a heat wave. Kilaya watched around him as he proceeded to walk toward the wavering shadow. It scurried behind him, and then in front of him.

[TheBeefSupremacy]

"Much must be sacrificed in war, Lord Edril." Said Mordechai.

"It is your choice, but by my calculations the number of men you will lose when attacking the city is not proportional to the number you will gain through rescue"

Once again Mordechai scratched his nose and shifted his weight on his chair.

"The An-Xileel are as crafty as they come, it is indeed likely that they planned to put you in this compromised position, you must not fall into what is so clearly a trap."

Spoiler:

This is starting to get pretty epic!

[Chaos the N'wah]

Ko's ears flatten in annoyance of Kilaya's sudden departure, he turned to Voryn "What of Skybreak? This one heard of its magic to change the weather, could our forces use it to mask our movements, whether in or outside the city?"

Spoiler:

Thank you Jingles
Also epic: Alma Rula

[Goblin voice]

"Then, if Almaelexia is not an option, we are nearly back at page one." Edril said, without the fire that until recently burned in his voice and eyes. "We have, two more alternatives, attack the [&@%!] encampment to the south, or head north to await the Argonian army."

May the gods watch over you Umin Voimar, my friend. Edril thought and closed his eyes, taking a deep breath.

Spoiler:

censored word = "illegitimate child"

@Beef: yes. yes it is.

EDIT: And I'm off to bed. Read you in the morning... my morning

[Jingles]

"Knowledge of the Skybreak Gallery's existence as being beyond an urban myth is privy only to a few individuals. The Archmagnate was one of them, as am I, as once I served my house as Archmagnate myself. I don't know if the defenders even know it's down there, much less how to use it to their advantage," said Voryn, stroking his beard thoughtfully at remembering what potentially might be a surprise card up their sleeves.

[Khajiit Theif]

"Fine then, plan as you wish. So long as we come to a consensus before we lose more ground to the Argonians. You had better hope that with all this time spent planning it had better not fail." Growled Jedasha in an annoyed tone. I fear that we will lose all of our oppurtinity speaking useless words. The thoughts didn't console him.

[VirtualWeasel]

The shadowy figure proceeded to sneak away, but Kilaya saw the body shape and grabbed it by the shoulder. He quickly pinned the person against the wall. This action caused the person's invisibility spell to fade off, and Kilaya eyed their face. It was an Argonian. Kilaya held his dagger to the Argonian's throat.
"I told them not to send you! What did they tell you to do here?"
"They wanted me to kidnap the Duruza one..." The Argonian smiled evilly.
"You go back and tell them that if they send another one of you to these war councils, I will give their location away to the Great Houses."
"Fine. I don't want us all to die... Just keep faith with Argonia, don't let these peasants brainwash you." The Argonian quickly cast an invisibility spell over himself, and ran out the front door. Kilaya proceeded back into the Council chamber.

[Chaos the N'wah]

Spoiler:

>_< Dichotomy dun dun dun; your posts are so galvanizing Vw ^_^

[OblivionDuruza]

"Leaving Almalexia to fall is not an option. We need to release the rremaining Ordinators and if the city falls the morale amongst our men shall not recover. The battle for Almalexia will either win or lose us this war, and our homeland," Duruza announced gravely.

"My friend makes a good point, we cannot simply destroy the sewers, they must be closed off and quickly, we must send a special force to ensure that the city is freed. Perhaps we should investigate this 'Skybreak Gallery's'. The defenders will be too preoccupied to assist a search for it, but any aid we can deliver to them is essential in their efforts."