Eddie
Amaryllis, Josephine, Tagus
The Gallant Pheasant, Iron Gate

True to his inexperience, Tagus was hesitant in the application of the poultice, but words of encouragement by his friend and charge Josephine gave him the confidence and some tact to not shy away from tending to Amaryllis and touching her body with determination, fingers smeared in the remedy that would keep the shepherdess' body cool and keep it clean and safe from further infection. Josephine squeezed the hand of her friend and rubbed the back of it with her thumb, fingertip gyrating on the center of hand bone. The room was sculpted with ornate pillars and flowers, tulips and roses in long vases of white ceramic laid on tables and cupboards leaning against beige walls. The ceiling was decorated with intricate mosaics and patterns of braided stone. There was a fireplace opposite to the bed where Amaryllis stood, unlit and ground ashen marked and singed black from use after use.

When the shepherdess woke up, she was greeted by Josephine's gasp of relief mixed with excitement. It was a sharp intake of air followed by a tighter squeeze of the hand the rustling of long wavy hairline from the forehead up the scalp. The noble lady turned to Tagus in a quick glance. "Bring water, Tagus." She said, to which the young boy replied with a nod and a push out of the edge of the bed to the door. He left only momentarily for his legs were in a rush, thumps of feet striking wood resonating through the walls as he descended the flight of stairs to the bar. The bartender gave the knight a tankard. The water was fresh and revitalizing, something only Amaryllis would know when Tagus returned to serve her some to drink. He pressed the edge of the cup against her lower lip and gently craned it over for her to take a small sip. After a pause, he'd give her more until she was sated. Tagus was careful not to crane it too deep and make her choke on the excess of water flooding her mouth.

"I'm so glad you're alright." Josephine said with a deep emotional tone stuck to her voice. She kissed the feverish hot forehead of her friend with a single sour drop rolling down her cheek to the line of her jaw. It fell flat on Amaryllis' nose. The very tip. "Do you need anything else? Anything at all?"

Meanwhile, Tagus had laid the tankard on the cupboard next to the bed, opposite to where Josephine sat. He took a few steps back and walked to the center of the room, a bit lost in his thoughts. His eyes, clear browns from the summer ride, were focused on the place his small finger was once at. He remembered he was treated first, with the help of Roderick. Perhaps if everyone had been looked after immediately, they wouldn't end up in the baddest situation.
Frankie
Amaryllis Sweetford, Tagus, and Josephine
The Gallant Pheasant, Iron Gate

Amaryllis was eager to take the drink offered to her, tilting her head up as much as she could, though she ended up depending on Tagus for much of her movement. She was simply too weak to sit up much on her own. By all the gods, she was so grateful for Tagus and Josephine. Actually, she was grateful for all the knights, in a way, for she would have been dead a couple of times over, if it weren't for them. 

The cool water soothed her parched throat and chapped lips, gliding down her throat and making her tongue feel a little bit less like a glob of wool in her mouth. It was amazing what a little bit of water could do. She was so thrilled by the soothing water that she ended up drinking quite a lot, taking sip after sip for just about as long as Tagus would hold the cup to her lips. When she was finally through, she nodded a little and sank back into the pillows once more, welcoming their comforting embrace.

"Thank you," She whispered in a tired voice to Tagus. She didn't sound quite so raspy, now that she had had a drink, but her sickness and tiredness carried in her voice. She gave the young man a small smile, then turned her attention to Josephine once more as she spoke. It was comforting to have people that worried about her so much. For the first time since the death of her family, Amaryllis felt as if she really had people that cared about her again. People that were starting to be like a new family to her.

She shook her head slightly at Josephine's offer and closed her eyes as she murmured, "No... Thank you..." She was quiet for a few moments as she pondered her dream. Should she say anything about it? It seemed to have been more like a vision than a dream, though she knew of course that she had never had a vision before. It was just the effects of the raging fever, but... What if it did carry some merit? What if her fevered dream could save someone else? Surely, this illness had afflicted others!

Finally she murmured, "Are... Are there others?"
Bobby
Mercurio Whylder
Undisclosed location, Fargone

Mercurio didn't need to read the entire thing; it was the letter he had sent out to John de Burgh. Even the hardened streak of red wax was at the bottom of the paper, the family crest of the Whylder Mountains permanently engraved onto its crimson surface.

"So your right is not only by how long your bloodline has lived, but also because you say that you know Northwind by heart." He summarized, tucking the parchment into the folds of his clothes. He then paused for a minute before extending his hand out and tossing a brief flash of yellow. The paper then swirled around in the air before descending into the icy currents below, immediately turning into illegible mush and finding a watery grave. No more traces.

"While I do not argue against it, and I also agree that a harsh place like Northwind should be ruled with a tight hand on the reins, public appearance is also important, you know. Should the surrounding nations suspect - by all respects and in theory - a tyrant ruler, your reputation will be in the dirt and the Whylders may see no trade coming in or out as a war tactic."

"This can be avoided, however, if you appoint someone capable of representing you in the higher courts." Mercurio smiled, his words quite reasonable. "A spokesperson. An ambassador. As well as a messenger; a little carrier pigeon."

"So here is my proposal to mark our fruitful partnership: in exchange for some of our men, our best equipment we can muster from the fur and metal trade, some extra funding should you need it and political protection, you will give me a place in the higher courts as well as physical protection to the Whylders. How does that sound?"
Frankie
Lord Albert Rhoderick
Undisclosed Location: Fargone

Rhoderick watched as the paper drifted downwards, lazily going back and forth before disappearing into the mist and fog. *Good*, he thought to himself *It's gone.* He would have destroyed the letter following their meeting anyway, for if he was caught with a letter addressed to De Burgh on his person, it was unlikely he could talk his way out of it. The letter was mainly just to prove that he had contacts in Iron Gate and had power, even if he was working things from behind the scenes. A puppet master needed to be out of view of the audience for them to believe the story. 

He listened to Mercurio's offer, and he found that he had no issues with it. He couldn't argue with such an offer! With it, both parties got exactly what they wanted. Rhoderick would get men, supplies, and funding, if needed. Mercurio would rise to a position of greater power. Granted, Rhoderick was also pleased with having a Whylder in his court as an ambassador-it was just one more person loyal to him in his future court. 

The young man smiled and held out his hand, "I'd be a fool to turn you down. It's a deal I'll gladly take."
Eddie
The room went silent for a little bit after her question. Josephine almost gave in the stoic composure and worried expression on her face. She wanted to tell Amaryllis, but the words didn't come out right in her head the first couple of times. The girl's large greens stirred in the rousal of the right path.

"Midde's people are suffering from the same wounds on their bodies, Ryllis... It's a miracle you are awake. Others—they've fallen. Some still live. The healer was a kind man, never giving a patient too much time. He had all the the others to think about! And Rolf helped us get out of there. Well. You see..." Her words faltered then. Josephine gulped the dry hanging of her mouth and did it again for good measure. She sighed deeply with a face ridden in guilt and shame. "We... Left because the people started to say you were a witch and... Things got out of hand and then... Then we faked your death."

Tagus snickered an abrupt snicker and held in a shameful smile. It was pretty funny to him. Why? They acted she was dead, Rolf at the helm, speaking of knighthood and rekindle the knowledge she was not just a charge or some slave. Their petty arguments turned moot. But now their ruse was exposed, at least to the main player on stage. Tagus faced the girls, his friends, and swallowed bitterness shame, composed. He had a small smile faded to plain face and bright brown brows arched as he envisioned the sadness of the people at the apothecary and in other places. There were rumors of an epidemic, but then the ruling faction came to conclusions. In some places, the dying died faster. In others, there were devoted and experienced healers like the old man back at the original apothecary.

"We didn't want them to attack us while we left." Tagus said. "Well, Rolf didn't. Damn me following stupid ideas." He chuckled nervously, hand behind his head, scratching it. "I'm sorry we *Used* You, Ryllis. I'm sorry I couldn't do more. I should've noticed you were stricken with something, or not let you go to the barn. Or just said something from the beginning!" He caught himself rambling when he was over and slumped his shoulders in defeat. Tagus was a wreck changing at the end of his teens. He looked down and shook his head slowly. Habits grew in him in his years as a squire then knight. He was the underdog at the academy because Hausel was a scoundrel. He was an utter arrogant prick with no feelings for the peasant, barred hatred and condescending demeanor. The trials went on and Tagus endured, to end up as the Hand of Josephine. She studied the boy turning young man and helped him, or tried to, always ahead of his mind, like paper flow planes. Marin called them the Cocker Knocker. It was a sheet of paper, shaped avian edge with sharp beak and two straight edges down, opening to the corners of the sheet's form. The device was important at hand hold, folded twice and printed in itself. Then they throw it to hit someone's head. Cocker Knocker.

She did succeed in some points, but there were more things to redo and discover. Tagus wasn't very talkative of himself at a deeper level, and to be open, sort of, like that with Amaryllis was nice to see.

"I'm sorry, Ryllis." Josephine said. Her eyes always locked onto her friend's since before, apart from when Tagus spoke. She was attentive to her expressions and her eyes, her gaze, and her condition as well.

"You should rest, and ask us if you need anything. Don't push yourself and recover."

Tagus nodded.

At the ground floor, Rolf and Howitzer talked about the events of the day. Howitzer laughed as the ebony man told him of faking Amaryllis' death. "So, these wounds are caused by the wolfmen. I suppose they have to go through armor to mess with us." He said with a confident smile.

"They don't care about us, How. But they don't get scared easy anymore."

"I felt that too in Midde. They're frightened by something else already."

"I think so too."

The two watched each other in silence for a few moments. Contemplating. Then they grimaced, one at his own way, contrast of black and white.

"Do you think Roderick already had that thought?" Howitzer asked.

"You always ask that."

"And you always answer the same way." Howitzer smirked.

Bored, Rolf sighed. "And it will never change, unless Roderick turns very old and senile. Honestly,-"

"We hope he does." Howitzer chuckled.

"Very funny." Rolf smirked, shaking his head at his friend. "Stop asking me that. It's bad enough there are rumors about him reading minds back at the castle."

"It must be hard to lie to a knight commander."
Frankie
Amaryllis Sweetford, Tagus, and Josephine
The Grand Pheasant, Iron Gates

The surprise on Amaryllis' face was quite evident as Josephine informed her that the others had accused her of being a witch and that others had fallen ill. It seemed that she somehow always managed to surmount the illnesses that afflicted her and others around her, though she didn't understand why... She was incredibly lucky. Or incredibly unlucky, for it seemed that she frequently lost those that she cared about, only to survive herself. She looked up at Tagus and gave him a soft smile of thanks, and gave one to Josephine as well before leaning back into the pillows and closing her eyes.

She was silent for a time. Long enough, in fact, that it seemed as if she had fallen asleep. Really, however, she was just thinking about her situation and all that had happened, as well as the dream that she had had. After quite some time, she murmured, "I don't know why so many believe me to be a witch... I suppose some people will believe whatever, especially of a woman my age that's unmarried and unbeholden." She was silent for a few moments more, then glanced at her friends. "Promise me you won't believe the same?" When her friends nodded, she bit her lip hard and then continued, "I had a dream... I wouldn't call it a vision... But I had a dream of a flower that grows in these mountains which the wolfmen were afraid of. I don't... I don't know what it means. I feel like... I feel like it means that this flower can be used against the disease, to heal those that have fallen ill from the wounds inflicted by the wolfmen. I... I could be wrong..."
Bobby
The true notion of power has never eluded the mind of John De Burgh. In culmination of his thought processes , he has taken his military organization to writing whilst deep in contemplation in his study. The leader of the rebellion in the south has been captured, and is awaiting his fate. In the mean time, John puts his official military structure and purpose into writing.

Northwind's Army and Organization 
Introduction.
 A new era has dawned upon the state of Northwind. An era of change, humanism, and political reunification. To understand the role of the military in the new order, this document will be authored. Its chief purpose is to clarify the role of the military in the management of Northwind, and how the military is to be organized under the rule of the new administration. 
 The nation's military is entirely paramount to national identity. People will be more inclined to serve a state if that state serves the people. The military is the utter pinnacle of servitude to the people. As I come to rule the land of Northwind, it has become increasingly apparent to me that I must center a large amount of focus on maintaining Northwind hegemony and preserving affluence and national identity, and the new state of Northwind will conjoin military with politics to ensure that the new state is run efficiently with great efficiency and discipline.
 While I maintain a strong belief in the individual's right to be self ruling, that does not qualify as an equivocate to have a self regulating military. Once you swear an oath to the people of Northwind, you sacrifice your autonomy and become a cog in the inner machinations of the state, and you simultaneously become part of the law that binds all of the people who call Northwind home.

Naturally, there is no need today to labour on scientific approaches on offensive doctrine. Any modern, versatile force will be able to conform to their opponents and their surroundings to be successful. Therefore, I need not illustrate the doctrines of offense and defense, and I only need illustrate the doctrine of versatility in unpredictable situations. However, this is not to say that war does not follow a scientific nature. I would argue contrary to the opinion that science and war are natural juxtapositions. Investigating the essence of the phenomena of war becomes a task rooted in contradiction and assumption, and I will write to the best of my ability to ensure the clarity of organization and of battle is natural and synchronized.
 To illustrate my point, I will place it simply. It would be foolish to assume the shape of an ear of wheat simply by analyzing the elements of the kernel that it grows from. That analogy holds even more true in warfare and in the structure of a military. Simply because you instill values of discipline and organization doesn't ensure that any situation that the military encounters will suit the way that they train. That is why I prioritize versatility over staunch military conservatism.
 Analyzing war, it is perhaps not impossible to perfectly illustrate it in its most purest form. To write a systematic theory of warfare would require one to possess such genius that they can effectively consider every aspect of battle in any situation. In the following pages of this document I will first clarify the ideal organization of the military unit so that it may be broken apart and put back together in pieces that are both practical and effective.

The Knightly Order's Organization.
 The success of a military operation is decided almost entirely on which of the belligerents maintains superior discipline and organization according to their environment. Previously, I stated that I would design the military to be versatile and built into practical pieces that can be taken apart and put back together while still maintaining superior organization. This will be done by maintaining a pyramid of hierarchy that dually conjoins with a pyramid of organization to conform to a sense of leadership that will exist on every level of the military from the smallest military unit to the largest. 
To start from the very bottom, there shall be two distinct types of soldiers; knights and auxiliaries, who will perform marginally different tasks from each other. Knights, who have sworn fealty to the state, are all citizens of Northwind, whilst Auxiliaries are not, and are primarily refugees or prisoners of war. Regardless of who auxiliaries are, all of them are trained specifically to adopt certain specialties that ordinary knights are not accustomed to. These include horsemanship, archery, and more utility based roles. A auxiliary who valiantly serves in the army for twenty years will receive a grant of land, and full citizenship for himself, his wife and children, and his posterity.
Knights and Auxiliaries also have distinct organization that separates them on the battlefield. In order to easily understand them and how they are mutually compatible and pragmatic, I will first illustrate the structure of military units for the Knight order.

The squad~ The smallest and most maneuverable military unit that is commonly seen in most, if not all, military organizations spanning Marin. The squad consists of three knights whom all fall under the command of a single Knight-Sergeant, who is responsible for the management and well being of those under him. Squads, due to their small size, are easily maneuverable and may be given special assignments or duties if they show proficiency in a specific expertise, such as reconnaissance.

 The Troop~ Composed of two squads, the troop consists of eight men in total who fall under the command of a Paladin, who is usually a knight with at least two years of experience that has distinguished themselves in leadership. Troops share living quarters, and are typically the smallest unit size that will be actively deployed. Like the squad, they are extremely maneuverable and simple to manage. The troop is the staple of Northwind's military organization, as it is composed of those who the individual knight will pursue the closest bonds with. The newest soldiers in the troop are situated with fatigues, and are given menial labour jobs that require them to demonstrate their ability to work under pressure until they can secure a specialty, like cooking, surveying, trumpeting, masonry, or hunting.

 The Battery~ Composed of ten troops and totalling roughly eighty men, the battery is Northwind's company sized military unit. The battery is the level of organization in which most drills and trainings are conducted. In a larger division, batteries are used primarily to garrison a specific location or to keep watch of an individual point of interest. The battery will most likely be the most often used military unit in times of peace, due to their fair balance of maneuverability and manpower. Batteries all have a distinctive signal flag bearer, commander of the watch, executive officer (Knight-Lieutenant) and battery commander (Knight-Captain) who leads them.

The Priory~ Priories consist of six batteries for a total of four hundred and eighty men, excluding each individual battery's commanders. The priory is the most commonly used military unit in individual, smaller scaled battle and skirmishes in which a small yet efficient fighting force is enough to see a task completed. When in a battle, units will be built primarily in this unit and will be given orders on the priory level. In times of peace, priorities are often assigned to separate provinces in order to maintain organization and respond quickly to military threat. The priory is headed by a single Prior, who oversees all of those beneath him.

 The Division~ The classical division, the staple of large scale warfare, consists of ten Priories, totalling around six thousand men. The priories within the division are individually numbered one through ten, with the first cohort being larger than the typical cohort, containing eight hundred men, with each individual battery commander holding higher status than the others in batteries contained in other cohorts, with the most senior of all of them holding the rank of Knight Commander, who is not only in command of the first priory, but is also in charge of the day to day runnings of the division. The division is run by a multitude of staff officers who fall under the command of the Marshall, who is in charge of the overall command of the single division. Divisions are the largest and most vital proponent to strategy on the grand scale, and their commanders are among the most esteemed in all of Marin.

 Cavalry Units~ Outside of the typical unit of soldiers are cavalry units, which contain around one hundred and twenty riders. These cavalry units can be specifically designated to any military division, and can some instances be sent to perform duties alone. Horses are bred specifically for versatility in the battlefield, and are occupied by riders that are trained the very day they enlist into the Knightly order.

The Auxiliary Corps Organization.
 Auxiliaries are the staples that bind the Northwind Army together. Without them, the Knightly Order can not function at its most optimal efficiency. Auxiliaries are to be thought of two ways: chiefly the reserve forces of the army, being plugged into the places of knights if need be, and secondly being the support of the entire army. Logistics batteries, reconnaissance squads, and other utility based tasks are given almost uniquely to the Auxiliaries.
Auxiliares are organized similarly to the Knight Order, except for the fact that they are specialists while the Knights are soldiers. Auxiliares have entire batteries devoted to specialties, for example the five hundred strong horseback cohorts that assist the knights during battle. These specific cohorts can also be part mounted, containing four hundred eighty infantry with one hundred and twenty auxiliares on horseback.
Auxiliares are also designed to be much more maneuverable than Knights, simply so that they quickly perform their duties in support of the larger element that they are tasked to assist. Because of this, the Auxiliary unit doesn't go farther than the Priory. Auxiliares have no divisions, and no Knight Commanders to order them. In their place are Paladins, senior knights who have volunteered their services to command Auxiliary forces. In charge of the entire Auxiliary corp is the Paladin Commander. 
As stated previously, Auxiliares are not citizens of Northwind and earn their citizenship through their dedication and devotion to serving the state and the people within it. The Auxiliary Corp provides incentive for non citizens to work for the state, as it provides them with multiple pensions provided they serve the twenty years they are assigned. Also, if they so choose, an auxiliary can commission as an officer in the Knight Corps if he so desires after his twenty years as an auxiliary are served.

The Function of the Army
 War, in its most primal state, is nothing but a duel on a larger face. To master the art of the duel is to also master the art of war. War, in and of itself, is the primordial state of human nature. In a duel, two men fight for dominance over the other so that they may impose his will on his opponent. The military serves an identical purpose on the scale of grand strategy. War in its truest sense is an act of force imposed upon an opponent to compel them to our will. The imposition of the will of Northwind's people is the hallmark of Northwind's military. The needs of Northwind's peoples triumph over the needs of any other.
 The function of Northwind's army is to ensure that the needs of Northwind's peoples are maintained and saw through. The state of Northwind serves the people, the people voluntarily serve the state of Northwind. Through this common virtue, we reach common value with the general disposition of servitude that the civilian population, myself included, is being protected and safeguarded by those brave enough to line the battlefield bearing our flag. No war was ever won without bravery, and no war was ever won without bloodshed.
 In order to ensure Northwind's army always perseveres, it is pivotal to reach the understanding that war and diplomacy are antithetical, however if one wants to master his country, one must master both. The purpose of war is to aid diplomacy, and Northwind's diplomacy looks inward to the needs of the people who live on her soil. With that being said, a fallacy must be addressed.

There is no ingenious manner in which you may defeat your opponent with little bloodshed. The art of war does not revolve around the ability to subdue your enemy without the use of force. War is force. In war, there is no minimum use of force, especially when two nations clash in a test of might. It is wise to adopt a policy of "Maximum force," Because only when your enemy can not pick up their blade and fight once more is that enemy truly defeated. A true master of war can effectively combine maximum force and intellect, and he who can perform this regularly will become truly unstoppable on the battlefield.
 Throughout Northwind's vast history, she has been known for one trait in particular: her national identity. The army is the chief protector of this national identity that the citizens of Northwind have held so dear for her entire history. Northwind's peoples have the strongest wills on the entire continent of Marin, and this is kept largely intact by their love for country.