HFQ Official Snippet #16

n7axw wrote:Hi guys,

I think dwileye13's summary of the possibilities are about right. There is nothing for Ahlverez at Ft Sandfish. The qualifier is whether or not he knows that Hanth has broken out of Thesmar.

The supply situation may not be as good as you think. Note the following from LAMA:
"They were more than a little starved, those Dohlarans, gaunt, with leaky boots and worn uniforms that came perilously close to tatters, but their weapons were well kept and clean, and they knew what to with them."

Dunno...make of it what you will.

Don

Good quote. So, a loooong ways to go, over rough tracks, with low supplies, kit wearing out, in winter with well informed, well equiped armies behind and before. Not a pleasant prospect!

Ni n7axw,

Thanks for the link. The mark-ups really help envision whats going on.

I just finished my nth read of the series. I still don't remember if I ever saw any recognition of Merlin's promotion. Was there, and I just missed it?

dan92677 wrote:Ni n7axw,

Thanks for the link. The mark-ups really help envision whats going on.

I just finished my nth read of the series. I still don't remember if I ever saw any recognition of Merlin's promotion. Was there, and I just missed it?

No, there wasn't any recognition of it. A book or two back they started calling him "Major" and that was it. Exactly when that happened is something for me to watch for on my next reread.

Don

Don and jgnfld, thanks for the marked up map. I haven't been at my big screen for a day or two so haven't been able to appreciate it properly till now.

'almost half-way to Thesmar.' Yes, but from where? Dwileye13, from his last comment, obviously takes it from Ahlvarez' starting point at the Desnairian HQ in the Kyplynger. I took it to be from the point where he exited the Kyplynger and could start heading towards it, which seemed to me to suit the context better. But it's a debatable question and shows up the assumptions underlying different people's comments.

n7axw wrote:

dan92677 wrote:Ni n7axw,

Thanks for the link. The mark-ups really help envision whats going on.

I just finished my nth read of the series. I still don't remember if I ever saw any recognition of Merlin's promotion. Was there, and I just missed it?

No, there wasn't any recognition of it. A book or two back they started calling him "Major" and that was it. Exactly when that happened is something for me to watch for on my next reread.

Don

I don't have time to go check this, but I think the first time I noticed it was when Princess Irys greeted him as they arrived on the terrace to meet Cayleb and Sharleyan. I took it as a promotion in recognition of his success in rescuing Irys and Daivyn.

Randomiser wrote:Don and jgnfld, thanks for the marked up map. I haven't been at my big screen for a day or two so haven't been able to appreciate it properly till now.

'almost half-way to Thesmar.' Yes, but from where? Dwileye13, from his last comment, obviously takes it from Ahlvarez' starting point at the Desnairian HQ in the Kyplynger. I took it to be from the point where he exited the Kyplynger and could start heading towards it, which seemed to me to suit the context better. But it's a debatable question and shows up the assumptions underlying different people's comments.

I think it is clear that before the news of the Eastshare breakout that Ahlvahrez had gathered his remaining Reserves, Supply train and his scattered battered infantry down from the intersection of the Ft. Sandfish high road. He was concerned that the Desnairians had noticed his troops withdrawing from the East.

dwileye13 wrote:I think it is clear that before the news of the Eastshare breakout that Ahlvahrez had gathered his remaining Reserves, Supply train and his scattered battered infantry down from the intersection of the Ft. Sandfish high road. He was concerned that the Desnairians had noticed his troops withdrawing from the East.

I took it to mean from the start of the Fort Sandfish Road at Kharmych. That would indicate Ahlverez has cleared the forest and has just left the road to strike off to the west cross-country. I think we'll find out soon.

XofDallas wrote:

dwileye13 wrote:I think it is clear that before the news of the Eastshare breakout that Ahlvahrez had gathered his remaining Reserves, Supply train and his scattered battered infantry down from the intersection of the Ft. Sandfish high road. He was concerned that the Desnairians had noticed his troops withdrawing from the East.

I took it to mean from the start of the Fort Sandfish Road at Kharmych. That would indicate Ahlverez has cleared the forest and has just left the road to strike off to the west cross-country. I think we'll find out soon.

I have been assuming from Kharmych too. But you know, Randomizer had a real good question. I never realized until I started studying that print map in LAMA just how spread out the battle area is. From the siege lines by Ft Tairys to the blocking position in the Kyplyngyr forest is over 300 miles. Kharmach is at least 50 to 100 miles from the blocking position. Then imagine managing that on foot...

Don

n7axw wrote:
I have been assuming from Kharmych too. But you know, Randomizer had a real good question. I never realized until I started studying that print map in LAMA just how spread out the battle area is. From the siege lines by Ft Tairys to the blocking position in the Kyplyngyr forest is over 300 miles. Kharmach is at least 50 to 100 miles from the blocking position. Then imagine managing that on foot...

Don

Yes, it's a really spread out position. Ahlvarez' intact infantry regiments started out from the southern edge of Karmych, while he was at the Desnairian HQ when the dispatch about the Fort Tairys breakout arrived and thought to himself, 'Colonel Hykahru Bahskym was the senior Desnairian officer at Kharmych, almost a hundred miles east of their present position.' (Lama p570) which must have been somewhere near the road in the Kyplynger.

Randomiser wrote:

n7axw wrote:
I have been assuming from Kharmych too. But you know, Randomizer had a real good question. I never realized until I started studying that print map in LAMA just how spread out the battle area is. From the siege lines by Ft Tairys to the blocking position in the Kyplyngyr forest is over 300 miles. Kharmach is at least 50 to 100 miles from the blocking position. Then imagine managing that on foot...

Don

Yes, it's a really spread out position. Ahlvarez' intact infantry regiments started out from the southern edge of Karmych, while he was at the Desnairian HQ when the dispatch about the Fort Tairys breakout arrived and thought to himself, 'Colonel Hykahru Bahskym was the senior Desnairian officer at Kharmych, almost a hundred miles east of their present position.' (Lama p570) which must have been somewhere near the road in the Kyplynger.

Makes you blink to think that Alvahez would have had 2-3 days on horse just to catch up with his infantry!

I suppose the one benefit that it offers the Dohlarens - lots & lots of space to 'get lost' in, and to try and sneak by Hanth. Depends upon how effective his[H's] scouts are, and what hints are handed in his direction by certain other parties...