Hi LazarLives,
Yup, losing the whole army until Ahlverez is reported safe will cause mourning all over Dohlar, maybe some regret for tackling the republic, and some blow-back onto some of the more ambitious nobles.
However, given they've known that Rychtyr had retreated and has been stuck at Evrytyn for weeks apparently, ought to indicate the public knows more bad news is probably coming about Ahlverez's army, so trying to censor or deny it could be pretty stupid; and another reason why Thirsk isn't very upset, since he's not involved in such decisions, and doesn't bear any responsibility for them regardless of arguing against what's decided.
Ahlverez was far better supplied, I estimate he needed only about 18 dragon wagon loads per day, once Brahnselyk was up and running, with a 19 day turn around, for 342 dragons, which at an 85.5% active rate
means a total of just 400 dragons at that point, as opposed to 6-7,000 dragons the Desnari need to move supplies the 900 miles from Thesmar, where even a dragon can only carry 75% of their wagon's payload a round trip of500 miles in 32 days.
Assuming the same average rate per day of 31.25 miles for the whole 900, the extra 80% means only 14.85 tons per dragon wagon (55% of the 27 ton max load) and a round trip of 58 days to deliver the 2538 tons of fodder to the 160 cavalry regiments plus their 50% remounts every day, that's 171 wagon loads or ~9913 just for the fodder over the 58 days with no spares, while food for 175,000 men not counting servants, medics, blacksmith's etc needs around 18 dragon wagon loads, or over 1044, for 10,957 before the 'spares' requirement of 85.5% bumps it up to 12,815+ dragons the IDA needed to feed itself everyday without foraging 900 miles from Thesmar, though that figure is direct; by the high road to Cheryk its about a thousand, ie add at least 11% more [ ie 14,097] or reduce the end payload to exactly half ans use 64 days for the 2 round trips.
So whoever's idea it was to approve going to Fort Tairys among the Go4 ought to take a real hit too.
If Ahlverez's army had around 50 infantry regiments and 25 cavalry, plus ~11 artillery regiments, it means some 3748 officers without adding staffs etc, so the aristocracy will definitely take a hit, as will the middle class, etc.
The effect upon support for the king, since blaming the church is unthinkable of course; will be very interesting to see.
L
Lazalarlives wrote:Randomiser wrote:On the second part of the Snippet, is the heading right? Are Dohlaran naval ships also identified as HMS whatever? -Snip-.
I'd figure they'd still be 'His Majesty's Ship'; it's probably the same for most nations. The only different ones were the NOG ships. They're part of the Royal Dohlaran navy.
As to the other part, I'm guessing it has to do with news about the destruction of 2/3rds of the Army Dohlar sent against Siddarmark. Lots of fathers, sons, and husbands not coming back, much less carrying the loot from the richest nation outside the Temple Lands on the mainland. This also means no territorial expansion, no new fiefs for second/third/fourth noble sons, and pretty much an entire year's GDP lost in the process.
It may be enough to shake the situation up in Dohlar - and depending on how badly the King takes it, it could end up costing previously 'untouchable' nobles more than they ever thought it could. Consider Thirsk's musings on the corruption in the acquisitions process. Who, in the end, becomes this scapegoat? And does the field commander have enough political capital remaining to shift the blame to the REMF's in the capital who assured the King that what he sent was more than enough, despite Thirsk's (!) limited input.
Anyhow, just my two bits.
Dave