In the dimly lit war council chamber, Chief Logan stood tall, his silhouette casting long shadows across the stone walls. He gazed sternly at his lieutenants, Kro and Lots, his voice tinged with unmistakable urgency. "The arsenal of our boarmen, minotaurs, and beastmen brethren languishes in disarray.
It's been ages since we last bolstered our military might, and yet, such a fundamental issue as weaponry remains unresolved!"
His eyes narrowed slightly as he continued, his tone sharpening. "If this were a matter of ignorance, I might forgive your oversight. But you are well aware of the problem, and still, it persists. I will not tolerate such negligence again!"
Kro and lotts, feeling the weight of their chief's displeasure, quickly bowed their heads, their voices quivering with anxiety. "Please forgive us, Chief. We assure you, the issue will be rectified posthaste."
"I should hope so," Logan retorted crisply. He then sighed, his frustration evident. "I had intended today's discussion to focus on our forthcoming assault strategies. Yet, here we are, grappling with a lack of basic armaments. It seems our plans must be deferred."
The revelation left Kro and Bagen momentarily stunned, their minds racing. 'A battle plan' They exchanged uneasy glances, acutely aware of their failure's gravity.
Logan's gaze drifted towards the bustling training grounds outside the council chamber window, where troops honed their skills. Kro, seizing a moment of resolve, spoke up. "Chief, it's true that our standard warriors lack proper arms, but our contingent of two thousand werewolves stands ready. If you have a command, we are prepared to follow it without delay."
At this, a burly boarman named Gawa, who rarely spoke up, added boldly, "And my Lord Chief, even weaponless, we boarmen are still eager to serve under your banner."
Kro nodded appreciatively at Gawa's spirited interjection, a small smile breaking his usual stern demeanor.
Logan turned back, a ghost of a smile playing on his lips as he regarded the trio. "Very well," he declared. "I'll grant you half a month to resolve this weapons fiasco. As for our campaign, we shall initiate a sweeping strike against the smaller tribes neighboring the Silver Mane Tribe."
He paced slowly, his voice carrying a mix of resolve and ambition. "This decision follows a report from my uncle Begon. As the larger tribes of the southern wilderness begin to stir, we must act swiftly to expand our dominion. The small tribes within a hundred miles of our territory, with their meager numbers and weakened by famine, will likely offer little resistance.
Many might even surrender willingly and seek assimilation into the Silver Mane Tribe."
Kro and Lots listened intently, the weight of their responsibilities clear, yet now buoyed by a renewed sense of purpose. Their chief's strategic vision for expansion not only reinvigorated their spirits but also underscored the critical role they must play in fortifying their tribe's future.
The revelation from Chief Logan left Kro and his comrades wide-eyed and momentarily lost for words.
Lots and Gawa, too, were plunged into thought. The challenge wasn't just in acquiring these formidable creatures, but in maintaining them.
Logan shook his head, a mix of amusement and seriousness coloring his tone. He too dreamed of bolstering their elite forces rapidly, yet he echoed the reality they all faced, "Can we truly support a hundred wyverns?"
Understanding dawned on the trio as they considered the practicalities of sustaining such a powerful, yet resource-intensive, aerial fleet. Wyverns, smaller cousins to dragons with only two legs and bird-like claws, wings adorned with scales or feathers, and tails ending in barbs or serpentine forms, were no trivial charge.
Wyverns, with their lineage tracing back to the mythical dragons and the majestic griffins, are formidable creatures. Their fierce appearance, akin to "chicken-body-and-snake-tail monster," only adds to their intimidating presence.
Standing roughly three meters tall, these beasts boast a wingspan stretching eight to ten meters and a body length of six to eight meters, not including their serpentine tails which extend their full length to over ten meters. Despite their impressive dimensions, they are considered relatively small due to their slender necks, elongated tails, and expansive wings.
Carnivorous by nature, wyverns have voracious appetites that far exceed those of the Thunderbirds and Wargs. With the current provisions in the tribe's animal pen, sustaining a hundred wyverns would be unfeasible, selling all possessions would still fall short of meeting their dietary needs, not to mention the demands of feeding the numerous wolves.
Upon this realization, Kro's shoulders sagged; a hundred wyverns were beyond their means. Observing Kro's crestfallen demeanor, Chief Logan offered a reassuring smile. "Right now, it may be beyond our reach, but who's to say about the future?"
This sparked a shift in Kro's mood. The tribe was evolving rapidly; the animal pen had expanded more than tenfold recently. Perhaps future capabilities could indeed support such ambitious endeavors.
Intrigued by another matter, Logan shifted the topic. "Speaking of expansion, I heard there are now over 500 wolf riders. Has Kodiak been busy acquiring more wolves?"
Kro nodded, recalling the recent acquisition. "Indeed, Lord Kodiak has procured over a hundred rideable wolves and ten adult kodo beasts. It took some persuasion, but he finally agreed to the purchase after my relentless urging."
Logan, connecting the dots from a previous conversation with Kodiak, realized the financial aspect of these dealings. "Ah, that explains the additional funds I provided to Kodiak in Canyon City. He used that to secure the wolves."
Curiosity piqued, Logan leaned forward. "And these ten adult kodo beasts, what's the strategy there? Are you planning to establish a logistics and load-bearing unit?"
Quickly dismissing the assumption, Kro shook his head. "No, we're not preparing for long-distance engagements, so a dedicated logistics unit isn't necessary right now. We acquired the kodo beasts primarily to transport weapons. Their strength and size make them ideal for carrying heavy armaments."
This practical use of the kodo beasts highlighted a strategic layer in their military planning, ensuring that even as they scaled up their forces, they remained agile and well-equipped.