The only open road there is through Siderland, which is closed off to Rustuffe and Orshkal's ships to prevent it from becoming a battleground.
I missed this announcement, and even so there are other ways around such as through Gungixao or Ashibia and then into the hills by foot (alot of my people are used to trecking wilderness), or if they are not willing, travilling further south to Beq n' Ban. Regardless, its not like my people are going to be going around in their grand blue and yellow Ru'sh Naal ships, likely they are traveling disguised as fishermen or traders to avoid attention.
Speaking of ships.
While the storms of summer make northern Estic area very difficult navigate, the still cold winters are perhaps even more brutal to Rustuffe tactics and training, such that Ptacolo Tei commissions Zhang Han Kai to construct a new vessel more accustomed to the turbulent waters. Basing the design off of captured Orshkal ships, the new slimmer crafts were incompatible with the standard Rustuffe technique of stick a bunch of people on a boat and have the shoot the crap out of the enemy.
The Mahowaeaen naval commander however loved the sleek design of the ship and its similarity in orperaility to the Mahowaeaen longboats once used to dominate the seas. Designs of this vessel are sent to Weruina Port, Mawahe, and Daijoua where these crafts are added to the production line at the already busy ports. There is concentration on defense of these ports as large quantities of previously established forest reserve are raised for their strong timbers under what the Wereuan General claims is the state's necessary interests.
These actions are met with concern primarily among the Ru'sha citizens, however having troops outside of their city walls on and off for the past few years allows them to accept the loss of their sacred forest as a cost of safety.
These ships begin conglomerating in the South Estic Sea defending the port of the captured town while shipbuilders, doctors, and other Rustuffe citizens are being escorted in by divisions of the Arm of Bao. Violence against these citizens in the town is met with execution by the military forces in the area.
Many troops impatient with the elongated regrouping period in the city, and enraged after hearing of the destruction of the temple of Bao (which many remain convinced was the fault of the invading Ashkaliyans) request for the push north to finally commence.
With half of the military spread out east to prevent raids however, many in command are hesitant to advance their position until the Galaumian reinforcements are securely in place.
A request is sent out to the tribe of Navaro to assist in this time of crCIA instead of letting the Ashkaliyans stride through their lands unabated. The tribe responds that only if a dedication towards the intention of peace is established should the Navaro intervene.
The Wereuan General responds that peace will be had only when the Orshkal disease has been purged for as even the cowardly Kai of Ru'sha know that if you fail to completely cure a plague it will only come back stronger and more resilient.
The Navaro tribe declares that violence only begets violence, and it will not have any part in perpetuating these actions. Furthermore the Navaro begin restricting access to the Navaro Mine, a primary source of silver for the nation, thusly angering the Teijina Merchants who call for an end to this bitter war that has destroyed their credibility in the market and needlessly endangered their lives.
the Bao (A Galaumian)
Correction, Daun Sun Bao is still the acting Bao, and while she may be elderly she is still wise and able to advise military actions from afar, her advise comes under question one day when discussion a potential tactic to quickly and efficiently invade the next Orshkal city. With the easterly winds of the northern coast, their kitemen-smoke tactic would likely fail, especially as the wind blows perpendicular to the city they would be invading with the landmass to the west of the city preventing a guaranteed consistent glide path.
Given this information, however, Daun Sun Bao came up with a tactic that would not require support of the Ru'sh Naal navy, allowing it to complete its long-overdue assurance of independence for Molenia, while at the same time potentially securing the next Orshkal city as well.
The details of this plan had however immediately horrified the Galaumian Disciple, Rousseau, whom begged the Great Bao to reconsider her proposition saying that at this time a lasting peace could still be established and noting that even should they defeat Orshkal, they have angered it's allies whom would continue to multiply until nothing but utter destruction for the entire region would be ensured.
The nation of Molenia had already seen its independence from taxation of Orshkal which was the entire point of their supposed promise to the nation, and thus the navy shouldn't need to be moved, and the nation of Orshkal had already been shown that their ways would not go unchallenged, and would potentially agree to a joint trade scenario governing the region peacefully, with the potential for future allegiance of the nations.
Ptacolo Tei, present at this strategic meeting given his pledge to donate many of his personal resources and guard to the missions, rejects the Disciple's propositions saying that the ruthlessness of the Orshkal can only be met with appropriate action, as that is what the King had made obvious would be the only reasonable way of communicating. He claimed that the young Disciple had much to learn about the ways of War and should stick to his Alchemy and Astronomy, leaving the living for the people who are more concerned with life itself.
The Disciple was confounded as to how to respond to such a bizarre retort, however given the pressingness of the matter, the generals determined to follow the Bao's plan, and Rustuffe forces begin to travel north, with the remaining gaurd that was previously expanded eastward coming back towards the cities to provide a more continuous barrier of defense for the Northwestern regions.
The Galaumian reinforcements are requested to hold primarily the central and eastern cities as Arm of Bao divisions sweep through the northeastern area periodically to check for incoming aggressors.
Poll