Author's note: This is a re-write of the original fanfiction's 4th chapter as of 26th September 2015. It was done in order to streamline the story and make it more sensible.
[Story starts]
Chapter 4: The (Low-key) Demon King Rises.
Brimir, The Lord, The Savior, The Founder, is a messianic figure worshipped by the Halkeginian people. His church was based on the Romalia, their holy city located in the southernmost nation of this realm. His deeds as their first king that had united the human lands, and founded the four nations, caused his followers to ascend him to the realms of divinity. This parallels to the rise of Christianity on Earth, and the Talos Worshippers of Skyrim.
However, the four whom stood there in the aftermath of carnage beyond their mortal means; whom had battled and defeated the previously indomitable so-called divinely chosen nobles; was simply anything but in the likes of their Holy Brimir. Before long, they shall be known as demons and monsters to some, while the others shall regard them as the ray of hope after years of suffering from the nobles.
Reminiscing in the aftermath, the whole battle itself took only 20 minutes. The resulting carnage however had shocked the villagers for about an hour before they managed to snapped out of it and responded. Two burning house had then burned to the ground while two other burning houses was managed to be saved by the foursome, all during the time the villagers were still stunned.
As expected, some of the villagers were began to be wary of Edwin and team; most of them however were preoccupied with happy reunions or sadden by the death of family members and destruction of their property. Time however, was of the essence. Although they had acted rather spontaneously, their original plans somehow had taken into account what they did; it had just hasten in accordance to the opportunity presented to them.
In a booming voice, Edwin asked them of their village leader. An elderly man slowly stepped forth after fighting a reluctant tussle and grasps of his family; his face full of fear and confusion on how to address the call to his office. He thus began "My lord…I am the elder of this insignificant village…I must plead you, my lord, please spare us…Please don't eat us; we're but just skin and bones…I swore on the lives of my children that we are at your mercy…Please spare us, my lord" as he ended it in tears, begging and prostrating not unlike a condemned man pleading his life before his due execution.
Although Edwin had mentally rehearsed a response for, facing such situation in its actuality made it hard for him to react as quickly. Steeling his heart, he said in a deep voice; the hammiest, most tyrant-like he could muster "Rise, human. Lift your face to me. Hark my orders well, human. I find insult in men who fell to their knees before even trying to defend what is theirs. I shall let this slight slide away this first time, but I shall tolerate this infraction no longer".
Lifting his face towards the crowd, he thus continued "Hark, and hark well those whom witnessed my being. You shall know me as The Dark One, Inheritor of the Blacklight Curse. I have arisen to purge this land of its injustice; to empower those whom yearn for justice and peace. I seek men amongst men whom capable of wielding my fury, vision, and hope. I seek men who shan't abuse my gift for themselves, but utilizes them for the good and justice of his fellow persons. But. Be gravely warned; those who incite my wrath, they shall die in such pain that they shan't desired even of their worst enemies."
Hearing their murmur, Edwin continued his speech "As I had bested the mad men that wishes your extermination, this village shall be at my protection but by two provisions. First, none of the events transpired tonight shall befell outside ears. Second, to effectively protect your village, my orders shall be absolute. Any of you are permitted to suggest or protest anything, but the final word shall be mine. Are we clear?" As none answered, Edwin hence cajoled them once more "I said, Are we clear?!" which they answered well with an overall affirmation. The village elder was asked to join Edwin and team for some discussion, once they finished scouting and securing the perimeter of the village. Later that night, he had ordered the remaining villagers to attend to their own needs for the night.
[Scene Break]
The village they saved, Ramsfield, became their first paramilitary base. The discussion with the Village Elder yields quite the information such as identities of the defeated nobles and the surrounding lands. Edwin had serendipitously absorbed the senior advisor of a viscount ruling this province whom expected to be returning to his liege within a few days. Fortunately it is just a standard protocol thing, since the man himself was also a minor member of the Parliament, thus politically outranking his viscount superior.
This particular viscount was considered quite lowly by his advisor; simply, he was a bullied man, having to deal with the whims of the ruling Reconquista, all due to his father's antagonistic stance against the civil war. That in turns gave his advisor almost free rein to mistreat his people. Fortunately, it is an opportunity as good as any to put an infiltrator into the ruling ranks.
During his stay in Albion, Edwin managed to create some new abilities to accommodate their plans. Among others was the ability to selectively consume only the brain matter of the fallen rather than the whole body; and the ability to create an infiltrator unit that could easily passed off as the impersonated person, equipped with basic offence and defense capabilities though a live 'volunteer' is needed for this irrevocable transformation process.
Selective consumption was fully utilized there and then as the information gained from the nobles were somewhat lacking by due of their arrogantly overlooked some required key information, and the fact that it look more humane to actually bury the fallen foes instead. The necessary 'volunteers' for creating infiltrators were obtained from the remaining soldiers caught hiding near the village after being scared off by their counter-offensive.
This province was also found out to be slightly larger than most in Albion due to its mountainous frontier setting. It's development was started only 30 years back, and much of the lands are still covered in virgin forestland. The fairly mountainous aspect of the region also made mining being a major industry here. Hence, the population centers were spread relatively far and wide; enabling incidents such as happen the prior night to be relatively common though not as severe.
As a merchant trope, this too shall serve Edwin and team quite well, as much of the resources were yet to be fully developed, thus providing great potential for expansive economic growth and military development. As tempting as it is to haste, a good foundation is paramount to the longevity and endurance of their plans, which the infiltrator requires time and resources to work up and influence the ruling society here.
[Scene Break]
Viscount Albert Erickson the 4th was relatively young, in his late 30s, when he replaced his father after the elder was 'retired' by the Reconquistan government for siding against the civil war. The Erickson clan had managed to hold on to their provincial lands afterwards only by the virtue of being their original owners; and the land boasted a fame as a relatively secured rural frontier with good natural resources, an assumption that shall bite their Reconquistan posterior soon enough.
The viscount was reeling from exhaustion due to the mounting paperwork he must handle daily to smoothly maintain his province; the reports of various industrial production and reinforcement requests for handling the bandit scourge; when his sturdy study door was open to admit the famed Flame Reaper. He really loath that man, since the man was his unofficial 'jailor' to his own lands. However, the way the Flame Reaper acted felt a bit off for the viscount that day. The man still felt as authoritative as usual, just lacking the usual condescending attitude and remarks.
His senior advisor then reports that the excursion to eliminate supposed national threats was successful, and he also brought along an audience request of a merchant he met on his return trip to the viscount. Curiously, he also inquired on the wellbeing of his liege and family before requesting leave to attend to his other duties, including to inform said merchant of his meeting with the viscount within the week. This caused the viscount retiring to bed quite early that night in preparation to handle a growing headache, and whatever wildcard and bad deals Fate had in store for him tomorrow. Fortunately, tomorrow was the beginning of new and better days for him and his people.
[Scene Break]
In response to their defense of Ramsfield, the merchant head and the demon king shall be two different yet somewhat related individuals. Hence, Carlos was promoted to be the new head of the merchant trope while Edwin began raising a suitable army. Before his official promotion, Carlos accompanied Edwin to meet the viscount and offer their services, while John and Cathy stayed at Ramsfield to start the village transformation into a suitable base of operations.
The meeting was held in the provincial manor located two days away south of Ramsfield. They rode there along-side the infiltrators that shall serve as the mediator between them and the viscount himself. Upon arrival, they were greeted by the waited staff of the manor that lead them to the meeting room, and its adjacent waiting pantry. They waited a while before being joined by the Viscount and his advisor, the Flame Reaper.
Formal introductions were made by the merchant band as the Silver Ring Merchant Company based in Helmstead; they were a mercantile enterprise specializing in trade and logistic on high-risk routes across Albion. Their highly trained members had enabled them to obtain such specialization within a short time period. The Viscount introduces himself as Viscount Albert Erickson the 4th of the Northern Shields province; and also introduced his senior advisor and Reconquistan government representative as Sir Menvil the Flame Reaper.
The discussion started by them offering the viscount their expertise in handling some of the banditry problems and help in re-establishing some of the compromised trade routes across his province. They simply requested for some trading rights and permissions from the provincial authorities in return for their service. Sir Menvil vouching for their capability goes a good way as the viscount defers much of the province defense to the Flame Reaper. The introduction and demonstration of some repeating rifles the merchant band managed to manufacture beforehand closes the deal well.
Edwin considered their current situation to be very lucky, but he was prudent to consider it little more than a stepping stone, a probably shaky one at most. The fact that the viscount is still cowering under Sir Menvil's presence is both an advantage and a disadvantage; and he could be a probable future breach point of their plans. Once he truly realized that the Sir Menvil beside him is nothing but an imposter, he could revolt or worse, assists Reconquista upon them. Hence, they tried milking Sir Menvil's control to the fullest, while covertly empowering and persuading the viscount to help fight the Reconquistan tyranny.
After the end of that meeting, they return to Ramsfield once Edwin, Carlos and the Imposter Menvil synchronized their plans for the representation of the province through Sir Menvil's seat in the Parliament. A lot of censored information was defined for the provincial report, and they did tried recreating some of the old Menvil's 'charms' so that the illusion last longer and more convincing for the viscount.
[Scene Break]
The original plan of solving the Whiteglen-Silverstride bandit dilemma was resumed after they spent another two whole weeks training the youths at Ramsfield as a basic fighting force, mass-producing some more repeating firearms and ammo, and building a decent defense at the village. A rifle squad was inducted to the original caravan for fire support and mercantile role rotation for the Whiteglen mission. A second similar squad of well-armed merchant trope was also formed to serve another route with similar mission parameters.
It was quite the achievement that they had managed so far. Once the defensive constructions of Ramsfield finishes, they plan to expand their forces', The Dark Army's, influence onto the neighboring towns and hamlets slowly but firmly by visiting their leaders and proposing a trade deal they'll probably would never refuse. Their main concern during the expansion was about anticipating and counter-acting any moves made by the Reconquesta. Unexpectedly, the Brimiric Church and its clergy poses as the first hurdle for them. It was a slight debacle when it happened.