Ireland
-- Lambor Castle --
The knights from Escavalon and Salisbury are housed in three adjacent sections (including Cardiff), with Stonewall and Bod Dynal knights being housed in an adjoining section along with part of the Gloucester forces. Word is that Stonewall and Bod Dynal were supposed to be with Hereford but they arrived much earlier than expected and are already at the City of Legions. Sir Perin is rather perturbed about this and spends much of the eleven days at Lombor complaining about not being allowed to proceed onward.
In order to maintain order, reduce drunkenness and rowdy behavior, and otherwise keep morale high, all knights are expected to be practicing for at least four hours a day and there are various activities to keep them engaged throughout the weeks.
Sir Dalan is in charge of 50 knights from Cardiff, including his own knights. Over the weeks (as well as from previous meetings) he has gotten to know them all at least in passing. He speaks with veterans, both the leaders and the followers, and there seems to be a theme running through the stories. Treat your subordinates the way you want them to act and lead by example. If you treat your knights like children, they will act like children. If you treat them as if they are the best on the field, they will act that way. But regardless of what you say, it is your actions that count. If you tell them they can come to you with any problem and then berate the first who does, don't expect a lot of visitors. If you flee, they will flee, if you stand, they will stand.
Sir Gracian spends most of his time with Brother Cadfael, who turns out to be a wealth of information. Sir Gracian learns, however, that Brother Cadfael's perspective on things shows through regularly. He looks at things from the commoner's point-of-view and his explanations for the various conflicts always seem to stem from Lords behaving unreasonably toward their peasants. Nonetheless, Sir Gracian feels as if he has a better grasp on the general political situation and some ideas on where the key places are and who the key people are, although he is forced to figure some of this out based on Brother Cadfael's commentary on other subjects.
Sir Garym finds that his time is in rather high demand. It seems to have been arranged that there are at least three Round Table Knights around Lambor throughout the bivouack. Part of their duties involve being seen and talking to as many knights as possible so that over the course of their stay each knight has an opportunity to interact with at least one of King Arthur's chosen elite knights. When time permits, he works with the Bod Dynal knights in order to know them better as well.
-- The City of Legions --
After a week-and-a-half, the knights head out in groups of two hundred. The journey to the City of Legions is quick and uneventful. This part of the journey is being well organized and is quite smooth. The City of Legions has not changed since Sir Gracian and Sir Dalan passed briefly through on their way from the Wasteland. All housing is arranged and each group arrives in the evening and sails the following day with the tides.
-- Ireland --
Likewise, the journey across the Sea to Ireland is relatively uneventful. The weather cooperates and the seas are calm with light winds. The ships land at Malahide, Dublin, and Monkstown in the northeast corner of Leinster near the border of Meath. When they land, they disgorge their knights and supplies before heading back to England on the tide.
As in Lambor, things here are very well organized and the knights are sectioned off into areas of the field. Approximately 75-80% of the army is in Ireland at this point and groups are being sent off to other areas of the country. A day later, they are sent off to Kildare a bit farther west and prepare for the beginning of the battles to come.
Anything you want to do or thoughts before battle begins?