Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn
From: arsmith@nyx.cs.du.edu (Alan Smith)
Subject: [NTY] Palandun: War...almost
Message-ID: <1993Jun23.220515.1604@mnemosyne.cs.du.edu>
Date: Wed, 23 Jun 93 22:05:15 GMT

  "Ambassador, you will be pleased to know that all is in readiness." King
Gorrin said, "We have taken the outposts with very little fighting, and my rear
is coming into camp as we speak.  I'm going to release Shirek now."  Palandun
pondered how to respond to this, he had a feeling that 'Well done' wouldn't
fly very far, kings being notoriously bad at being patronized.
  "Thank you." Palandun said, deciding to leave it at that.  Gorrin ordered the
orc released, and Palandun took leave to wander the camp.

The dwarven army was sufficently different from the Bismanian Corps to bear     
noticing.  They tended to be organized in companies of a hundred or so dwarves
led by a captain, then brigades of about ten companies, then armies of two or
three brigades.  The two armies in the camp contained 7,000 dwarves between     
them.  The infantry soldier wore chain mail and a helmet and fought with an axe,
in theory always staying in the rank and file of the company in parade          
formation, but Palandun suspected that only the well-disciplined actually did 
that, and that company squares had a tendancy to devolve to a mob.  Squares also
seemed notoriously hard to steer, which, coupled with the inneficient
communications system (runners and flags) scared Palandun should the unexpected
happen.  Another thing that scared Palandun was the lack of ranged weapons.
  "You're looking at the best army in the Mysty mountains."  A dwarf said.  
Palandun recognized him as the Minister of War, an old dwarf with lotsa scars.
  He just checked himsef from making a sarcastic remark, instead saying: 
"Indeed?"  The old dwarf lectured him for the next hour on the virtues of this
army.  It was with some relief that Palandun was recalled to the king's tent.

  "Dawg wishes to see you," Gorrin said, "He says that he would deal with the
origionator of the idea.  You don't have to go."
  "I'll go." Palandun said.
  "If you're not back in two hours, we're coming in for you."  Palandun thanked
the king, then rode off with the orc.

  Dawg was a cold dragon, meaning that he didn't have a breath weapon at all.
(Those that breathe ice are called frost dragons)  This did not make him much
less fearsome, though, for dragons are a very intelligent breed and well 
equipped with natural weapons.
  "The one who escaped, eh?  I could kill you now."  Dawg said.  Palandun rested
his hand on Gynsoo.
  "Not without losing a couple fingers, maybe the front end of your tounge.
Besides, I die and Gorrin comes in and kills you and takes your treasure for
himself."
  "How do you know my orcs are not now destroying Gorrin's army?"
  "I don't, but I think it unlikely.  Did I come here to trade barbs with you
or was there some other reason?"
  "I wish you to explain your proposal, and tell me why I should accept it."
  "Sounds fair.  Step one: You release all your slaves, voluntarily.  
Step two, you take on contract a contingent of dwarves to mine for you.  Step
three, you pay the dwarves a salary and never double-cross them.  You should
accept it because voluntary dwarven labor is much superior to involuntary 
human, at least when it comes to mining."
  "Oh?  My slaves come for free."
  "No they don't.  You have to pay to get them, pay to feed, clothe, equip, and
guard them, and they have this tendency to do slipshod work and die.  With 
voluntary workers, all you have to pay for is salary and guarding the fortress,
and the work will be three times as great."
  "Three times?"
  "Easily.  I can't negotiate for particulars, but if you would care to meet
King Gorrin, perhaps he can arrange something."
  "Certainly, send him in."
  "Um... How about neutral ground?  That way neither one has to worry."

  Dawg was better than his word.  At his expense large boats were built and
rivermen contracted to take them downriver to Generica, and the freed slaves
were provided with a small stake and an apology.  This was not an entirely
selfless act, as the gems still had to be sold in generica, and a bunch of
very disgruntled slaves tended to be bad for business.

  On his return to generica, the first thing Palandun did was send a report of
the whole mess through the guild of messengers and porters to the Bismanian
ethernet.  The second thing was to contact Melwis about Generican criminal
proceedures.