Ok, I tried, I really tried, to respond to the "Three Things I Want to See Most" thread. Problem was, I couldn't limit my response to three things. No way, no how!
Further, though I think I have some pretty good ideas for the time of HFQ, predicting beyond that, well, my crystal ball wouldn't like me any more and might rebel. So, I have my list of all major things I think will happen in HFQ.
Nine (9) Gloriously Foolish Predictions for HFQ (with subparts, of course):
1. (1st half of HFQ): With respect to St. Zhana, Fairkyn and Ohlahrn in turn:
a. BGV flanks the town and straddles its supply routes, taking out any semaphore towers along the way and rebuilding them;
b. BGV scout snipers identify all storage dumps and housing for AoG troops in each city (should be easy, they should be the only buildings left). Under cover of bad weather or night, BGV shells those buildings in a mortar attack, then withdraws to the west, leaving a platoon and a mortar squad at each town to destroy supplies, additional buildings, etc. and to harass any remaining AoG troops. Said platoons set their camps about 10 mi west of each town, and interdict any supplies. Their objective is to destroy/interdict supplies, shelter and clothing, and let General Winter do the rest of their work for them.
c. At least one town enjoys good weather, so BGV has scout snipers quietly take any semaphore stations up to 40 mi west of that town before attacking, so no smoke or fires are noticed by intact semaphore stations, keeping the element of surprise.
d. BGV manages to surprise Guarnak and take it, then pushes troops south to some point where the terrain makes it easy for him to block any forces coming from Sylmahn Gap, thus trapping them and cutting off their supplies.
e. BGV sends another force north to surprise and take the town of Hyrdmyn as well.
f. BGV receives reinforcements and supplies by sea through Ranshair and through the New Northland Canal and the Guarnak/Ice Ash Canal, while repairs on the latter go apace, so the need for overland supply routes (or portions of routes) diminishes.
g. BGV destroys Wyrshym's remaining forces.
h. (By end of summer) BGV starts marching on Five Forks.
2. (Second half of HFQ): CE launches a surprise assault on the Salthar Canal, surprisingly from the west, south of Port Salthar. The surprise enables CE to roll up the canal from an unexpected direction, and to capture the Canal largely intact. Silk Town, losing its canal and then facing a powerful fleet and potential bombardment, explores capitulation (not without violent dissention, but between Nahrman and Aivah, it becomes far easier to neutralize than was the case in Siddarmark).
a. A blocking force is sent south of Port Salthar to block any reaction forces from the south.
b. Thirsk is forced by his superiors to sortie to attack the landing force. His fleet is destroyed, and he is captured. Because he is concerned for his family, the CE announces his death and then quietly starts a watch over his family, to see if those holding its members start to relax their vigilance, so the family members can be spirited away.
3. (First half of HFQ): Merlin and Nimue read and translate Kohdy's Journal. The coded entries reveal that the Societies of Chihiro/Schueler/Langhorne are who he is going to meet, and that if he doesn't return, it is because of them.
a. The coded entries also direct Merlin/Nimue to additional caches of weapons and records, and give them better info on what the orbital defenses will/will not allow.
b. They also reveal secret ways into the Temple.
c. One of the info caches also contains an original text of the Writ.
4. (About halfway through HFQ): The CoGA attempts to move the southern half of the Harchongese Army and/or its supplies to support Dohlar through the Gulf of Tanshar (Similar to how CE moved troops through Raven's Land). The CE western navy jumps all over this and destroys all shipping, either destroying 25-50% of the Harchongese Army or all its supplies, rendering it ineffective.
5. (First third of HFQ): CE forces move north from Thesmar and take Alykberg, trapping Ahlvarez's forces. They are captured, while Ahlverez escapes.
6. (About halfway through HFQ):An attempt is made to capture/assassinate Sharleyan in Chisolm. The attempt is nipped in the bud, and the outfall gives Sharleyan much more economic and logistical leverage throughout the kingdom, allowing it to increase the effectiveness of its production.
7. (Second half of HFQ): A similar attempt is made on Daivyn's life, and almost succeeds. The result is that there is now some urgency to change the laws of succession in Corisande. Irys produces a male heir, whom Daivyn immediately names as his successor, thus mooting things a bit. Nevertheless, Daivyn wants Irys as his successor, and, surprisingly, seems quite adept at moving and shaking things politically to make that happen.
a. Irys' pregnancy and producing a heir, in light of Hektor's injuries, produces some juicy gossip, which is firmly quashed (or as much and as firmly as possible).
b. Hektor is made adjutant to whoever commands the Corisandan Navy, with instructions to learn as much as possible about running a navy. He becomes aware he is being groomed to be a force in naval administration in the ICN.
8. (Halfway through HFQ): One of the concentration camps is liberated. Soldiers throw up at what they see there. They keep anymore people from dying, although the health of almost all inmates is precarious. These inmates will wind up spreading the word of what the CoGA is really doing throughout Alliance lands. In addition, many decide to travel into CoGA lands to spread the word as well, basically becoming martyrs.
9. Mabb Winds up killing two more sets of Schuelerites, in each case leaving messages for Clyntahn. Word gets out to the Scheulerite priests first, then to the nobility in all Temple-controlled lands, then to their military leaders, then to their troops.
