[Introduction]
[Map]

Somewhere around the time the Ongin commence their campaign in the east, the Radeti-Ashad forces are making final preparations outside the city of Eshun. Altogether, nearly one thousand men march eastward toward Ura'aq. It is impossible for an army of this size to move from one Ashad city to another without the notice of some villagers or travelers along the way, but the force has to decide whether to invest valuable time in subduing or gaining the loyalty of other Ashad settlements or march as directly for Ura'aq as possible, potentially catching the forces of Ura'aq relatively unprepared while making any retreat from the City of Smoke and Fire significantly more dangerous.

Emedaraq consults with his own advisors, mainly his own friends and high-status men of Eshun, along with the leaders of the Radeti warbands.