Convening a Council of War

To call it a council of war would be overdramatic. You weren't entirely sure how to classify it otherwise though considering some of the glares. You didn't know what exactly had happened between Illya Thorn and Bella Julai but the bad blood was clear to see.

"We'll be marching soon. The living quarters and basic defenses should be prepared by the time we arrive. We'll start with a clearing operation in the immediate area. We'll need to ensure there are no surprises waiting for us. Any questions?" You laid out. The group with you was only four of your knights, those who had clearly shown the potential for leadership in the brief time you'd known them.

"What are we going to do about the orcs?" Bella spoke up first, she was from the Order of Julian, her family was an off-shoot of an off-shoot of the royal line which was apparently still a big deal in the south.

"The tribe near Oaktree?" You clarified, getting a nod of confirmation. You looked around the table. These were your primary candidates. You decided to make a test of this. "What would you do?"

"We need to attack. The sooner the better before they realize what they're dealing with. Sweep them aside like the menace they are." Bella said with confidence. Looking around the table for agreement.

"They're a pretty poor menace," Illya chimed in, looking to you and continuing when you gave your assent. "They were willing to talk and make a deal before. There's no reason that would change with our arrival."

"We don't know what kind of deal they made." Jacob Edwardson said, the only man at the table. He was from the Order of Darkness and had been the one who most needed to adjust to his newfound strength as the broken chair in the corner could attest. "We may need a show of **** to show we're not to be trifled with."

"Or a show of good faith." Sister-Knight Catherine added. "While they aren't a civilized tribe they could become one. That would be a far better symbol for the Devoted than a burned-out village."