Planning with Banneghenn

These last three days of talks have worn me out.  I'm so tired, but I don't think I'll get much chance for sleep.

As the days have progressed I've begun to understand more and more the relationship between Banneghenn and his senior assistants.  The level of negotiation between themselves when anything needs doing seems odd to my Dzarraf sensibility, but these are a strange folk.  Everything seems to need explaining and discussing, like Banneghenn needs everyone's consensus, or even permission before he makes any clear decision.  Along with that oddness also comes a warmth that is perhaps missing from many of the Dzarraf's dealings with each other.  Over the last few days I've learned that these wonderful, jovial people have an awful lot of pride, too.  Despite being fewer in number to the population of our delves (maybe one tenth the size of my people), they are proud of both their independence and their alliances.

Most of the Gnaeblin get along well with the Dzarraf, there is plenty of mutual trust and trade, and both our peoples prosper from the relationship.  But my folk are numerous, and with the Gnaeblin numbers so light, we pose a threat to the well-being, the lands and the culture of the Gnaeblin.  This is unfortunate - and it is not something that my people choose to do intentionally.  At least we can help them directly now, and perhaps through this we can help preserve what they have.  I spent far too much time over the first few days reassuring dignitary after dignitary that our people hold the Gnaeblin in high honour.

It was until late morning yesterday that we reached the point where Banneghenn could discuss his military plans in a candid way.  I sat through a long discussion about how he plans to march several large forces to the surface and to surrounding tunnels to deal with the Gurgam threat.  He showed me how he intends to direct the Dzarraf to aid his army to the best effect.  He showed me some of the new weapons they have created ("magic" my people would call it – all built from cogs and springs).  It is all very impressive, but completely out of my remit and way outside of my experience.  After I'd indulged Banneghenn and his senior general Gallanarre (a very Welfen name if ever I heard one - and this soldier was carrying a bow, not a crossbow, I noticed) by sitting through the description of their plans of attack, I managed to move the conversation on to my role with his people.

My speciality is investigation in a civilian guise, but I also help with defensive planning against all kinds of eventualities.  This is what I'm here to help with; more specifically my direct task is to look at the village defences dotted around here and find ways to improve that defence and free up soldiers so they can join the attack force.  Gallanarre seemed impressed by the way I had understood and disassembled their own defensive plans and proposed many simple improvements.  Despite being a general, he seems to have only limited experience of defensive fighting and few ideas that span beyond attacking.  I will be presenting more detailed proposals to Banneghenn tomorrow.  Over dinner in the inn this evening I have come up with some solid solutions for them, all it took was a chance to think about it for a while.  I'll be presenting these plans tomorrow.