[OL-FB] An unpleasant meeting

[Keymonus]

Somewhere between Fort Arltrees and Seawatch, El Oleonda, January 623

Tristan stopped his horse and dismounted, immediately followed by most of his guards. Others, instead, remained on the saddle, carabine in hand. Even at the border of the main camp, the chasseurs were alert… a healthy habit, since any bush of El Oleonda seemed to hide a Lotii soldier or an angry native warrior. After weeks spent chasing the Lotii patrols, and so close to the territory of the fierce Daca tribe, a soldier could either be careful or dead.

Curiously, Tristan had never met General Hercule François before. When the newly-appointed commander arrived on the island with most of the troops, Tristan was already scouting the hills with the light infantry. He had received new orders and fresh troops, he was appointed commander of the vanguard, but he had never been to the headquarters.

Tristan, however, knew General Hercule François by fame. In the high society of Granoleon or Breshaun, he might have been known for his alcoholism, and several hastily covered scandals… but he was also a skilled commander, a cunning soldier, and a hero of the Juniper War.

Despite the over elegant uniform, the ruff and the anachronistic porcelain cup, he was still the man who had broken through three lines of Corrish grenadiers during the Willow Ridge Battle… but, for Poseidon’s sake, a field chef was a little too much!

As Tristan started to present his report, General François seemed almost more interested to his incoming lunch. It was an arrogant and frustrating move, especially considering that Tristan was just below him in the command chain… but probably it was just a calculated assertion of superiority. Screw that, they were not in a court or in a damned ballroom! He was sure that General François had carefully listened to all he had said- positions, numbers and quality of the enemy troops, location and inclination of El Oleonda tribes, important obstacles and landmarks- and that was the only important thing! Once more, Tristan didn’t regret at all leaving the motherland for the colonies… he could better serve the King far from the halls of Granoleon and their intrigues, and here the risk of smashing a nobleman nose was far lower!

————————

Just a little vignette, with a little bluecoat figbarf and some terrain.

For the campaign purposes: this build links the vanguard operations with the advance of the main column, and provides our headquarters with the most recent intelligence.

The rivalry between the commanders (@Ross Fisher, I hope everything was in line with your character) is just for story reasons, and will have no impact on our military operations!

[Ross Fisher]

1 hour ago, Keymonus said:

I hope everything was in line with your character

You riffed a bit, but nothing I hate. It's all pretty funny really. Nice build. Looking forward to seeing Tristan's story play out. 

Edited February 5, 2023 by Ross Fisher

[Thomas Waagenaar]

Nice story! Can't blame him for bringing a field chef though, there's no burger-chains in the middle of nowhere after all! ;)
 

[NOD]

Fun build. I'm curious to see what outstanding achievements General Hercule François brings about in the Seawatch Campaign. It looks like a contest between Brigadier Sir Dirk Allcock and General Hercule François. Who will perform better against the Lotii on the battlefield?

[Yperio_Bricks]

Nice little build and a great story! Maps of the battlefield and a delicious cake is all a soldier needs

[Ross Fisher]

9 hours ago, Thomas Waagenaar said:

Can't blame him for bringing a field chef though

Gives me General Calvet vibes:

 

[Keymonus]

Thank you, guys! I wanted to show some connection between the different storylines on El Oleonda, so I started with a meeting with our commander! Btw, I don’t own the parts for @Ross Fisher’s original character, so I took some licenses.

Moreover, the way in which I presented General François (arrogant, gluttonous, focused on useless rivalries) is intentionally seen through my character’s eyes: Tristan rose from the little nobility, despised by the higher classes…  as such, he doesn’t like much the noblemen!

On 2/6/2023 at 9:26 PM, Ross Fisher said:

Gives me General Calvet vibes:

 

I didn’t think about something so drastic, but these clips are hilarious! We need more characters like these ones in BoBS!

[Ross Fisher]

16 minutes ago, Keymonus said:

We need more characters like these ones in BoBS!

Absolutely. I hadn't made the conscious connection when I introduced General François. But now I've spotted it, I love it!

[Ross Fisher]

"Georges!" yelled the Général, musket fire zipping overhead. "Georges! Where the hells are you?!"
"Here Monsieur!" answered the chef, meekly huddled on the floor.
"Georges, we have a problem!" yelled the old soldier.
"Oui Monsieur," replied his man. "We are being shot at."

"Not that Georges! Much worse! I have run out of the Chateau de Filles again." He snapped off a shot from his pistol before ducking into cover. "Georges, I suspect there is a thief among the quartermaster's men. He must be stealing my wine."
"Oui Monsieur," was all he could reply, as a shot ripped apart the tree next to him.
"It wouldn't be you, would it Georges?" he asked, as he stepped across a space that had recently been filled with lead.
"Non Monsieur," pleaded the chef. "I cannot touch the red stuff. It gives me a rash!"
"Well when you find the swine, be sure to have him hung for treason, won't you?"
"Oui Monsieur," Georges replied glumly.
"And don't die before I get back. I'm going to need dinner early!" And with that he charged into the jungle, his men rallying behind him.

 

Didn't want to start a new topic, since it's only a little build, nothing much to add. Thought it might be a fun little duet with the original build.

 

Edited February 14, 2023 by Ross Fisher

[Yperio_Bricks]

Ahaha, that's a good one Love these hilarious stories about high ranked officers and chefs Surely the charge will be successful!

[Fraunces]

Lol, thats great storytelling

[Captain Braunsfeld]

Two builds in one post. Excellent stuff. I very much like the idea of a field chef.

And porcelain is never wrong on a battlefield.

[Jeff of Clubs]

"Steal my chef will you..." muttered Gerard DuQuesne to himself. The old goat was deep into one of his scowling sessions. The kind that frightened Sergeant Hobbes. Still He had to say something.

At last he could take no more, putting on his best smile for some reason he burted out, "Sir! I believe that is General Francois' party that our troops are firing upon!" 

"Oh truley? Is that so?" Drawled out the dusty Marshall in a less than earnest tone. "You know how unreliable these penal legionnaires can be. Besides! I have no arms Sargeant, I'm allowed to be blind from time to time."

"I'm not sure that line works like tha-" 

"Oh very well!" Snapped DuQuesne. "Ceasefire" he bellowed down the draw to the confused penal troopers, rattling the nearby bamboo in the process. With a great grin returning to the craggy collection of stones that comprised his face, DuQuesne turned to his Sargeant, "Come along, Hobbes. It's best not to let Chateau de Filles get too warm!"