Searing 44, 123
In the ten days since the observance of the 34th that had been equal parts celebration of accomplishment and memorial to what, and who had been lost, things had changed rapidly and dramatically.
As reports had spread through the military command structure (or structures) of the death of the mist spawned creatures (both those who had poured out of the rift directly and those that had been twisted from forms of life that had previously been native to the material plane) rumors had spread through the civilian population. How, precisely, information spread as quickly, and occasionally more quickly through the disorganized reality of society than it did through the organized ranks of the government, Stefan did not understand. Part of this confusion was likely due to the fact that he had never willingly engaged in small talk with anyone, hated gossip, and often became hyper focused on his own tasks deeply enough that he did not pick up on the things that were being spoken of all around him.
Deinerin was, of course, the soul of the discretion in all things, but Stefan's manservant was far from the only hand that reports passed through before they arrived in the Minister's own hands. The staff of White Knight Hall had been whispering of the event on the morning of the 34th. The workers on the Sky Islands had been passing the rumor of it between them the same evening as they danced and ate and comforted the grieving. Within the week the whole of the civilian population of the shattered nation seemed to be aware.
Some of the latter, Stefan knew, was because the villages would have seen for themselves when they were no longer being attacked and it was safe to venture out from behind their make-shift walls. Assuming that the generals knew, at least those within the borders, and very likely those who still hid in other nations outside of them, was a safe bet. Messages had been sent out to all the allies, however tentative, the Sky Islands had been able to gain and most of them had sent acknowledgement and reports back more quickly than Stefan had hoped they might. The wary hesitation and standoffish behavior of many of the highest remaining commanding officers seemed to be easing, though whether this was due to the Island's on going diplomatic efforts or because of the sudden change in the hopes of the nation was something that might only be known by posterity.
All four of the Riverland Fort commanders were now sending regular information packets and receiving similar from Eitan, as was Reichart, now that he had returned to his command. This left a swathe of the north that was, if not a blank space, at least a grey one so far as updated intelligence went. While the lack in that cardinal direction was not ideal, the continuous updates from the East (from the Lodge, which was now at least worth calling a village), the South, the West and the mid-lands felt like regaining sight after having been mostly blinded for a year.
With the influx of Reichart's soldiers and the lack of almost all resistance within the retaking of the city was moving forward with a speed that left Stefan trying to keep up. Eitan, with the aid of several other high commanders, had come up with a plan to sweep and secure the city by zones. The whole endevour was being mapped out almost in real time by a pair of Order illusionist who were using a massive table as an anchor for an illusory map of the whole city and its immediate surrounds. With the aid of runners and as many ships as could be spared to keep up with the operation they were able to update the map several times a day. Stefan could go, at any time, and see which zones had been swept for danger, which parts had been secured such that clean up operations could begin, which were currently being investigated by soldiers and which were scheduled to be next.
In ten days the West End had been cleared of what gangs, anarchists and dangers not associated with the mists had remained in them. The cleaning effort (removing the bodies and debris) were moving along, though more slowly. The combination had caused an unexpected influx of civilians, refugees really, to begin trying to return to the city proper.
Stefan, along with Delia and Luca, had been working on a plan that detailed how, and when they should reseed the general populous into the city. The appearance of, thus far, several hundred people who had their own ideas of where they would resettle and how they would do so was a disruption that, as of yet, they hadn't thought of a solution for. The simplest thing would be to send representatives down to talk to them, to explain how, if they followed the plan they would receive a steady supply of food and other essential goods, but this was easier suggested than accomplished. This was due to the fact that the group was not actually a group at all, they were a smattering of families and individuals who were unlikely to even known one another and thus unlikely to have anything like a leader who could be contacted. The tentative plan was to instruct the population of the Sky Islands on how to speak to them when they encountered them, once they had been released down to repopulate the city themselves.
Minister Dornkirk tried to keep as many of the domestic issues off of Admiral - High Sentinel Angevin's desk as possible, only informing him of situations that his soldiers might encounter.
In the ten days since the observance of the 34th that had been equal parts celebration of accomplishment and memorial to what, and who had been lost, things had changed rapidly and dramatically.
As reports had spread through the military command structure (or structures) of the death of the mist spawned creatures (both those who had poured out of the rift directly and those that had been twisted from forms of life that had previously been native to the material plane) rumors had spread through the civilian population. How, precisely, information spread as quickly, and occasionally more quickly through the disorganized reality of society than it did through the organized ranks of the government, Stefan did not understand. Part of this confusion was likely due to the fact that he had never willingly engaged in small talk with anyone, hated gossip, and often became hyper focused on his own tasks deeply enough that he did not pick up on the things that were being spoken of all around him.
Deinerin was, of course, the soul of the discretion in all things, but Stefan's manservant was far from the only hand that reports passed through before they arrived in the Minister's own hands. The staff of White Knight Hall had been whispering of the event on the morning of the 34th. The workers on the Sky Islands had been passing the rumor of it between them the same evening as they danced and ate and comforted the grieving. Within the week the whole of the civilian population of the shattered nation seemed to be aware.
Some of the latter, Stefan knew, was because the villages would have seen for themselves when they were no longer being attacked and it was safe to venture out from behind their make-shift walls. Assuming that the generals knew, at least those within the borders, and very likely those who still hid in other nations outside of them, was a safe bet. Messages had been sent out to all the allies, however tentative, the Sky Islands had been able to gain and most of them had sent acknowledgement and reports back more quickly than Stefan had hoped they might. The wary hesitation and standoffish behavior of many of the highest remaining commanding officers seemed to be easing, though whether this was due to the Island's on going diplomatic efforts or because of the sudden change in the hopes of the nation was something that might only be known by posterity.
All four of the Riverland Fort commanders were now sending regular information packets and receiving similar from Eitan, as was Reichart, now that he had returned to his command. This left a swathe of the north that was, if not a blank space, at least a grey one so far as updated intelligence went. While the lack in that cardinal direction was not ideal, the continuous updates from the East (from the Lodge, which was now at least worth calling a village), the South, the West and the mid-lands felt like regaining sight after having been mostly blinded for a year.
With the influx of Reichart's soldiers and the lack of almost all resistance within the retaking of the city was moving forward with a speed that left Stefan trying to keep up. Eitan, with the aid of several other high commanders, had come up with a plan to sweep and secure the city by zones. The whole endevour was being mapped out almost in real time by a pair of Order illusionist who were using a massive table as an anchor for an illusory map of the whole city and its immediate surrounds. With the aid of runners and as many ships as could be spared to keep up with the operation they were able to update the map several times a day. Stefan could go, at any time, and see which zones had been swept for danger, which parts had been secured such that clean up operations could begin, which were currently being investigated by soldiers and which were scheduled to be next.
In ten days the West End had been cleared of what gangs, anarchists and dangers not associated with the mists had remained in them. The cleaning effort (removing the bodies and debris) were moving along, though more slowly. The combination had caused an unexpected influx of civilians, refugees really, to begin trying to return to the city proper.
Stefan, along with Delia and Luca, had been working on a plan that detailed how, and when they should reseed the general populous into the city. The appearance of, thus far, several hundred people who had their own ideas of where they would resettle and how they would do so was a disruption that, as of yet, they hadn't thought of a solution for. The simplest thing would be to send representatives down to talk to them, to explain how, if they followed the plan they would receive a steady supply of food and other essential goods, but this was easier suggested than accomplished. This was due to the fact that the group was not actually a group at all, they were a smattering of families and individuals who were unlikely to even known one another and thus unlikely to have anything like a leader who could be contacted. The tentative plan was to instruct the population of the Sky Islands on how to speak to them when they encountered them, once they had been released down to repopulate the city themselves.
Minister Dornkirk tried to keep as many of the domestic issues off of Admiral - High Sentinel Angevin's desk as possible, only informing him of situations that his soldiers might encounter.
