Regarding Kormyre

Django,
There is much to speculate on. The greater picture escapes me as well.
The orcs themselves could be trying dupe us into believing a kormyrion uprising is at hand by sending us a man disguised as an orc to play spy.
The air is heavy with a nefarious stench.
Either scenario, my sword is honor bound to protect the people of this land.
I will do all I can.

The reason this isn't adding up is because you're assuming the Duke is the one behind this.

The Duke is a puppet being strung along like all of us by a force that wants to take the crown.

The "orc" spies served two purposes: If they won, we would be engaged with New Gaaldaron as a distraction. Now that they've failed, we are directing our attention at this Duke and his rebellion in Arkovnia.

He is one of the last dukes remaining, and signs point to him not being risen to power by normal means. Because he wasn't. He has someone very high up who has been pulling the strings. Someone who has known about the death of the king before even we did. Perhaps, unbeknownst to even the count, the cause of his death. Someone who has been playing this game since before some of us were born. Someone who has thought of every tactic and outcome and is using our strength as not only a diversion but a power move.

Mark my words: there will be a civil war in Kormyre.

No matter which side is the victor, he will be in line for the throne.

Or so he thinks.

I don’t consider myself to be well-informed on the current political landscape of Kormyre, or what is happening to the kingdom on a larger scale, but I feel it’s unlikely the goal of the attack was to trick us into conflict with New Gaaldron. The goblinoids in the invading force were wearing uniforms completely unlike something you would see from either empire—something more like a mercenary company. Not anything immediately recognizable, at least to me. If the point was to make us think New Gaaldron was the aggressor here, having them dress the part seems like a detail they’d want to get right. Again, not an expert, I just happened to be there and took the time to examine what the corpses were wearing.

---Brik B.

Brik, a fair point, and one that requires further investigation. I'd say our next step on that path is to identify the company in question. It could lead to future answers.

Seth, Is there any way to confirm your suspicions? Proof or evidence? I am not doubting your claim, quite the contrary I find it has merit in its explanation. However, if there is something to what you claim, I would see us pursue this line of thinking. Obviously our enemy in this scenario is a master strategist to keep up this charade for so long, but what can we do to stop them? To discover their identity, or to find something they overlooked. If we are losing this game of chess, knowing that we are even playing is only the first half, now I say we must take steps to attempt to achieve victory.

Any thoughts?

DJANGO

Although I wasn't there for the incident in question, I will back up Brik's assessment. Despite the tenuous peace we arranged with Gaaldron and New Gaaldron early this year, it would not take much to incite war between us and them. We have been at war with them for longer than almost anyone can remember. This is assuredly something different, and Seth may very well be correct in his assumptions.

I have unfortunately not been around much the last few months, tending to my duties in Oringard. With these new developments, rest assured that will change. I intend to open my own investigations, and would very much like your assistance, Django.

Winks,

You shall have it.

Simply tell me what must be done and I shall do what I can.

DJANGO