A divided hearth may nae stand, but a divided army may trap its foes

*With the successful destruction of the Warlock's rear guard, having put them to flight and secured its remnents in a ring of steel swords and gnashing teeth, he considers his next move. Tsana Dragonesti had departed, and no doubt was wreaking havoc on the warlock order's border as she advanced along their once secure eastern flank. They could not be certain yet as to the size of her force or even whom was in commmand. Not this soon. This gave Archos the advantage he needed. Pouring over his maps again, he considered his options. He could remain in place and decimate the much shrunken force of warlock troops, or he could avoid them and move to his next objective. He smiled grimly as a thought occured to him. his teeth flashed in careful consideration of the implications of this move.

yes...it would work.

He summoned together his commanders, and one by one gave them their instructions, one fifth part of his army was to remain here, to harass the army of the warlock order. Capture the remaining rear guard, or decimate them, whichever was possible. Another fifth part of the remainder of his army, a group of picked elite troups from his rapid response units, would take a flying column of soldiers to sieze a hill some three days march away. Archos himself would lead the remaining 3 parts of his force in following them. The flying column would depart immediately. The rest of his army the next morning, would move without concealment, so as to trick the warlock order, they would not know which of the Armies Archos was with, and they would not detect the flying column until it was to late.

Archos's objective? A march to the sea. When he arrived, supported by his commanding position in the hills and valleys not but a few miles away, he would take the ports, and bring through his navy from the shee. If all went well and the illusion of a grand army still decimating the warlock order's rear guard, held, then the whole of the force save for Tsana Dragonesti would be able to unite again within mere days, and he could relieve the pressure on the Mutiny Alliance, and or invade the Order itself. If Tsana Dragonesti can fulfill her objectives, he may relieve her force within a quarter year. Perhaps sooner, if his plans went well. Having finished his nightly planning session, he rolled up his maps, and went to sleep. At the coming of dawn, all would unfold....*

((damn this is fun. *S*))