While some think Ahlverez won't make it back to Dohlar, I don't think RFC would have invested so much face time in LaMA if he were toast so quickly in HFQ.
Of course, it's always possible with RFC that Thirsk will receive Ahlverez's apology second hand from his CoS, Lynkyn Lattymyr, but that's not the way I see things building in Dohlar.
Being the RDA's expeditionary CO, he should expect to make some kind of report to the king and army CO (Duke of Salthar?), and possibly the cabinet as well.
The Duke of Fern as Rahnyld's first minister needs to know what happened NTM what Ahlverez has learned so painfully, if Dohlar is to survive.
What are some of the lessons you think Ahlverez has learned?
For some possible background, I can't help wondering that Sulyvyn Fyrmyn report might actually be dictated or finished first since so much of his ministerial duties have been relieved by leaving the RDA's wounded for the ICA to care for, especially if it was mainly just copies of excepts from his own journal, which contain brief descriptions of the meetings he attended with Harless, Ahlverez's comments and his own observations on the campaign's progress.
He thus should have more time for composing his report first and the Go4 would certainly demand one, to at least cover the period he wasn't in contact with them if not including a review of the whole campaign.
I'm sure he'd tell Rainos, including updates on his progress and possibly checking some conclusions outside his expertise, but certainly not the whole thing.
What do you think Fyrmyn would emphasize in his report?
I suspect it might include Ahlverez's (and his) growing appreciation of the tactical changes of the new weapons, his attempts to work with Harless and how critical logistics are to any campaign's success and the pitiful nature of the IDA's that doomed the army once it left Thesmar.
While ignorant of the whole bit aware of some of the report, Rainos might be much more circumspect that a simple private message to to Duke Salthar, who he probably knows rather well, since regardless of how limited its intended readers are supposed to be, he knows copies will get into the hands of the inquisition and the Go4, where his will be compared to Fyrmyn's, and eventually to Desnar.
Given how important the first sentence and paragraph are, how should he begin?
Hint: blaming the Desnari for every thing right off won't help him very much.
Rather it might be far smarter to start of by praising the Desnari soldier as being as brave and as dedicated to the Jihad as any other.
"Whose physical and spiritual sacrifices for the Jihad ought to be known and lauded everywhere" might be a tad too thick
however true, but it's in the right general direction.He might then mention the company and regimental officers seemed basically competent and concerned for their men.
Then it might be okay to mention the average Desnari's devotion to duty was not matched by his general officers' concern and proficiency in taking care of their troops, but it might be better to set that statement up by suggesting Desnari generalship suffered more from its own (misguided) confidence in itself than its purely intellectual understanding of the new weapons.
Diplomacy and courtesy will be critical in getting his report accepted, especially in the temple by the Go4.
For example, he might praise Harless for never repeating a tactical mistake, yet detail how his overlooking the impending supply debacle doomed the AoS to considerable suffering regardless of what the ICA did after leaving Thesmar, and wondering if the IDA's logistical errors played as large a role in the 200 years the RSA continually defeated them as their battlefield errors.
He might point out his own errors and learning experiences comparing it to and complimenting Harless's quicker learning curve where possible.
While Rainos should remind his Dohlaran audience he had more rifles and cannon than Harless despite being half his army's size, he should emphasize the greatest difference between them was their respective supply organizations, and how fervently he gave thanks for his.
I've got quite a bit more, but its late and I should go to bed.
Please feel free to share your own insights and comments.
L
